A brief history of the fashion icon that inspired the new collection by Lynn Légaré
Coco Chanel is one of the most popular fashion icons of all time. Nowadays, when we hear about Chanel, we can think of her famous N5 perfume or her trendy fashion collections. However, over the generations, the Chanel brand has evolved a lot. The great French fashion designer was born on August 19, 1883 in Saumur and even today the values advocated by this creator are relevant. Not surprisingly, this woman completely dismantled the gender stereotypes of her time, allowing women to wear clothes in which they could feel free. No more corsets and heavy dresses, say hello to the pants and the sailor uniform! Coco allowed women to be comfortable while defying the standards of women's fashion of her time. It was very avant-garde to see a woman wearing pants! This avant-garde fashion designer is best known for her classic little black dress, tweed suit, two-tone ballerinas, quilted bag and much more. Gabrielle Chanel was also known for her famous pearl necklaces. Having a strong interest in pearls and jewelry, she decided in 1932 to create her own collection and became the first designer to launch a line of Haute Joaillerie. Chanel was a multi-talented fashion designer who defied the standards of her time and completely revolutionized the fashion industry. She is a great inspiration for many, including the jeweler Lynn Légaré. The latest collection from the Montreal-based jewelry designer was inspired by this great fashion icon. In this article, we will present the brand-new Collection C, from its initial inspiration to the creation process and its launch online. Read on to learn more about Lynn Légaré's new jewelry collection.
What is the new Collection C?
C Collection is a new collection composed of 9 pieces of jewelry that I launched at the beginning of the holiday season. It is a limited edition that will evolve over time according to my inspirations and to my client’s requests.
Where did you get the inspiration to create this collection?
For some time now, I had in mind the creation of a collection that combined pearls and metal. Pearls have an attractive power and it is one of my favorite raw materials. Also, they are evocative of the feminine universe thanks to their shapes and textures.
Why Coco Chanel?
Coco Chanel loved pearls; it is said that she never left her house without them! The beautiful rows of pearls always made me think of her, I keep in mind some particularly inspiring photos. Her life and her approach are very singular, she is a woman who revolutionized the fashion world and who was never afraid to upset conventions. She knew how to make her place in a world exclusively reserved for men. At that time, women played an important role in the workshops, of course, but they were certainly not at the head of an empire. She was able to impose her own style, which was radically opposed to the dictates of fashion. It was then that the androgynous silhouette was born, her signature, recognizable among all. She had just liberated women by throwing away with the corset. This was a big change at the beginning of the Roaring Twenties! Gabrielle Chanel is for me an icon.
What material is used for the jewelry of the C Collection?
Mainly sterling silver, 18k yellow gold-plated sterling silver and beautiful round freshwater pearls. I always select the highest quality of pearls for their beautiful luster and quality. Soon, I will also offer the possibility to do some customs pieces in 18 karat yellow gold models.
How did you choose the names of the women?
Very simply, I did a search to find female names from that time that sounded good to me. I like the idea of personalizing each piece of jewelry with a first name. I also wanted, by the same token, to pay homage to these seamstresses and craftswomen with golden fingers who materialized Coco's ideas.
How long does it take to implement a collection like this one?
In the case of this collection, I didn't draw the models in the first place, because they were very clear in my mind. I made the prototypes directly in the material following the inspirations I had in my head. It took me about a month to develop the design, then I had to finalize the prototypes, adjust and refine them until the final version that is now available online.
Can you tell us a little bit about the manufacturing process to arrive at the finished product?
Once the prototype is finalized, I write a technical data sheet in details with each step of the manufacturing process so that I can reproduce the jewel afterwards. This step is accompanied by precise measurements. There are several manufacturing techniques in jewelry, personally I work mostly by construction and assembly, which means that I do not use molds, I work directly from the wire or the metal plate. So, I saw, shape, adjust, weld and finish each piece of jewelry that is made in the workshop. All my jewelry is entirely and meticulously hand-made in Montreal.
How can I make sure I don't miss anything and be on the lookout for new collections?
The best way to make sure you don't miss anything is to subscribe to my newsletter. When you register, you will receive a code that gives you a 15% discount on your first online purchase! You can also follow Lynn Légaré on my social networks Facebook and Instagram, on which I regularly publish content. Don't hesitate to visit my website to discover the C Collection or my other exclusive collections such as the Axel Collection and Axel-Bis.
Lynn Légaré's jewelry proudly selected by La Fabrique 1840 of Simons
You will also find the Axel collections as well as the new Collection C via La Fabrique 1840, an online marketplace that brings together Canadian artisans selected by the fashion company Simons. It's a collaboration that makes us proud, proud of the enormous talent from here and proud to have been selected to be part of this virtual market that support local businesse.
