Mother's Day featured Mum - Suzi Kyriakdis

 As Mother's Day approaches us, we are featuring some mother's in the HEW community. Today's feature is on Suzi Kyriakdis who we collaborated with for the SS19/20 accessory collection.

Suzi is a manager, buyer and trend forecaster with over ten years in the retail industry working for iconic Australian Brands across apparel, swim and accessories. Majority of the range has been hand made in Melbourne by Suzi. Each piece uniquely hand-formed, with subtle variations in bead and natural pearl tones ensuring each piece, is special. We sat down with Suzi for some Q&A

 

1. One of your most favourite moments with Teddy? 

Jumping into the big bed for cuddles and to read a book together. Teddy now asks for "hugs" at random times during the day, which absolutely melts my heart.
suzi and teddy
 
2. What are some weekly rituals you both do together? 
Adventures and activities outside have been our saving grace during isolation. I love taking Teddy to one of the local parks where he can freely ride his trike around - he is a demon on wheels! Checking our letterbox, doing some digging and watering the pot plants are small rituals that Teddy loves where he gets to be in charge
 
3. What are some of the challenges you face with work and motherhood? 
Chasing that "balance"... I feel like I am forever adjusting to a new normal as Teddy grows and changes each week. I was made redundant and moved jobs whilst on maternity leave - something I could never have imagined happening at a time when I was already emotional and had lost my sense of self as a new mother.
However, moving to my role at Melbourne label MASTANI offered me the flexibility that I couldn't have had with my previous job, along with understanding from my boss who is an incredible businesswoman and a mother of two young children. 
 
 
4. Any tips for parenting during lockdown? How have you been keeping teddy busy in house
Just do what it takes to survive! If the i-pad works, don't feel guilty about it. If the house gets trashed, that's fine too.. just let it go.. no one can see it anyway! With his tiny attention span it's a shift of activities every 5 minutes... play-doh, drawing, painting, chalk on the footpath, "cooking" (mixing pancake batter), video calling grandparents to say hello, pretend sweeping... and me running around in circles cleaning up the mess.
 
 
5. Top 3 picks of HEW x Suzi collab for Mother’s Day gifts

 

 

I first featured Suzi on the blog last year with the article attached below. 

I met Suzi through my best friend, Eliza (Mosey Me). They attended Brighton Bay Art school together and became close friends through a mutual appreciation for style, fashion, print, glitter etc... Post-Brighton Bay we attended R.M.I.T - Suzi studied Gold and Silversmithing, and Eliza studied textile design. During our time at uni, Suzi and I collaborated on a range of accessories to go back with my final year collection. It's funny how things come back around. Nine years later, we have collaborated again on an earring collection to accompany the HEW SS1920 range. 

 The HEW X SUZI collaboration launched in September 2019 releasing the cascade and balanced hoop styles.

This second drop features pearl and rattan styles, with the picnic hoops and lustre earrings. Combining the natural and the man-made elements to be worn back with the HEW SS1920 outfits. Inspired by the colours and textures of semi-precious stones, the accessories are complementary to the HEW fabrics.


collab in 2010

(above) 2010 MSFW - Showcasing the Ema's final year collection with accessories made by Suzi. 

 Suzi is a manager, buyer and trend forecaster with over ten years in the retail industry working for iconic Australian Brands across apparel, swim and accessories. Majority of the range has been hand made in Melbourne by Suzi. Each piece uniquely hand-formed, with subtle variations in bead and natural pearl tones ensuring each piece, is special. We sat down with Suzi for some Q&A 

 

Do you have any tips for someone wanting to get into jewellery design?

People that love to work with their hands are usually drawn to jewellery. It is very tactile, fiddly but a great way to express yourself creatively. A good place to start is figuring out what materials and style of jewellery you would like to make. If it is fine jewellery with metals and soldering involved then look into an introductory or short course in jewellery, gold & silversmithing or casting metals. If it is costume jewellery you could play around with resins, wire, beads, almost any decorative material can be incorporated... experimenting is the best way to start.

. beads

 What were some of the challenges in making the jewellery?

It requires a lot of patience and repetition when making the bulk - bending sections of wire into the same shape hundreds of times can be challenging. Even though the collection is considered fashion or costume jewellery, a lot of time has still gone into the design and making process, making them precious in their own way.

 mini cascade

Any tips for accessorising this Spring-Summer?

Have fun and don't be afraid to wear larger earrings. Wear colourful earring back with solid colour top or dress

The neutral-toned earrings are great to wear with prints, whites, or softer pastel tones.

 

Who is your go-to fashion icon?

Giovanna Battaglia - Italian Fashion Editor and Creative Director - she has incredible style, has fun with fashion and has a more-is-more aesthetic like me.

Giovanna Battaglia

We take you through HEW X SUZI  styles. Suzi has continued with the use of natural resources in the creation of her pieces, incorporating natural pearls, rattan, resin and metallic hardware. 

 

HEW X SUZI 

Pearl Picnic Hoop

feature in Broardsheet

Natural pearls adorn some of the pieces, bringing a lustre and contrast to the resin or rattan that they are set against. The introduction of natural rattan and pearl talks back to the natural fibres/linens in the apparel and summer feel.

Retailing for $99, the Pearl Picnic Hoop calls for the perfect daytime piece.

 

 Mini Cascade Earrings

Due to their popularity, The Mini Cascade Earrings will be released in a natural beige colour-way as an alternative to the ever so popular pastel pair from the first drop. These earrings are perfect if you’re looking to add flair to your outfit, with the small chandelier drop earring becoming the star of any outfit. Retailing for $99, I recommend getting in quick if our first mini cascades were anything to go off.

 

The Pearly Hoop  

The Pearly Hoop are a small resin c-shape hoop in a pink marble colour-way which adds a subtle pop of colour to any outfit. An easy everyday piece retailing for an affordable $55 each.

 

Lustre Earrings

 

Personally one of my favourites, the Lustre Earrings are perfect for those days you want to dress to impress. The large beaded hoop are arranged with freshwater pearls and paired with a lilac resin stud to add flair. Despite their size, they are extremely lightweight so they won’t weigh you down. Retailing for $119, pair these with a maxi dress and heels or just a tee and jeans. LOVE!! 

 With every piece, remember due to the handmade nature there may be a slight variation between colours, shapes and sizes. This is what makes each HEW X SUZI piece special.

We hope you enjoy the second HEW X SUZI jewellery be sure to keep your eye out for new styles in the near future!

For more information on each piece watch our 'Trying it On' videos below!