An interview with the lovely Talia from Quixotic takes...
http://quixotictakes.blogspot.com/2011/06/designer-interview-hayley-kruger.html
Neon scrunchies and Strelitia flowers do not often maintain a spot in a child’s brain; The neon scrunchie for obvious reasons. What does remain, however, and did remain in the mind of Southern African born and raised Hayley Kruger, were the colors and shapes of both such things, along with lush green vegetation, bold beading and weaving of traditional African jewelry and luxuriously bright flowers like Bougainvilleas and Hibiscus. With such ubiquitous surroundings for a sub-tropical region, a jewelry line was born.
After Kruger began her creative career as a visual merchandiser in South Africa, she then made the giant move from never tamed Africa to London, the city of endless possibilities, where she designed jewelry for many high street names such as Top Shop, Lola Rose and Marks and Spencer.
As fabulous as such a career can be, Kruger wanted the freedom to create pieces as big and as opulent as she wished, and that she did. Kruger likes her pieces to make women feel empowered. With a hint of 80’s colors and attitude of Joan of Arc, Kruger’s jewels and headpieces now lie in the midst of other high street designers like Miu Miu and McQueen on the ever so amazing, Vogue.com.
Thanks to her studio in South London, BBC radio and a magnificent mind, this sometimes pearl earrings wearing gal, can take the quintessential colors of Africa, mix it with sexy, confident and retro style making even the most dull of outfits scream hello with her swanky designs.
QT: What inspires your collections?
HK: Aside from African culture, I am hugely inspired by vibrant botanical elements, so I look at the way that grasses, leaves and petals are layered and constructed to get the profiles that are present in my collections.
However the essence of the pieces are very much about making women feel empowered; like putting on a pair of killer heels and finishing the look with a piece of my jewelry. For this I turned to strong female icons such Joan of Arc, Miriam Makeba and Barbarella.
QT: How exactly do Barbarella and Joan of Arc provoke your pieces?
HK: I love each of these women for different reasons.
Joan of Arc believed so strongly in her cause and her country that she fought in bloody and masculine conflicts that led the French army to several important victories in the1400’s. And at the age of 18!
I learned that some armour plating emulates the way plants and animals are structured and hence have applied this layering to some of my pieces.
As for Barbarella, even though fictional, I love that she is so confident in her feminine charms that she can conquer the Universe, which is how I would like people to feel when they wear one of my pieces.
QT: Rella, Chion, Tallis...How do you come up with the names of your pieces?
HK: I began using Latin botanical names for obvious reasons, but as Barbarella’s influence crept in I started to look at star names too as she is a galaxy traveler.
QT: What is the craziest piece you have designed?
HK: I have done a few crazy head pieces, but my favorite is one of the first pieces I did as it set the tone for things to follow after that. It is a piece called Flights of Fantasy, and is a designed like an old school leather flying cap which is made from fuchsia leather. The top of the cap is piled high with brightly colored flowers, beads and stones and is completely fantastical. Think Carmen Miranda meets Amelia Earhart.
QT: Since the Royal Wedding, seems there are headpieces everywhere! Were you ahead of the craze and why headpieces?!
HK: I certainly can’t claim credit for being ahead of the game as Britain has the greatest names in millinery design, however I have been making head pieces since 2003 and the reason for this is that they are so much fun! You can be more elaborate on a head piece, however I will do my best to stay away from octopus shaped styles a’la Princess Beatrice.
QT: What is the best way to rock a head piece?
HK: With confidence.
QT: You do a lot of work with charities which is so wonderful to see a designer do. Is this something personal to you?
HK: The fashion industry can be a fickle and pretentious world, so working with a charity helps to remind me about the import things in life.
I have been very lucky work along side a Charity called Create Arts. They reach out to community groups including Young Carers, International woman's groups and people with mental and physical health disabilities amongst others. Their aim is to bring the arts to places like Helen House, a respite hospice for children and families and which is very close to my heart.
QT: What types of people do you like to see wearing your items?
HK: Nothing gives me more pleasure than seeing an “ordinary” woman wearing one of my pieces. One of my customers who is a high flying city slicker referred to my necklaces as being “the ultimate in power dressing!”. I love that!
QT: What else should we know?
HK: This is only the start. Hayley Kruger still has a lot of adventure ahead, so watch the journey.
And that we will. Right after buying some Bougainvilleas and the Ziwan necklace.
