Giuliana Michelotti

For 20 years, Giuliana Michelotti has designed fashion, objects and jewelry of uncommon organic sensuality in collaboration with such leading firms as Valentino, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Christian Lacroix. Always a passionate and inquisitive traveler, Michelotti has been as influenced by the tribal and ethnic traditions of Asia and Africa as the contemporary trends of her native Italy or current home, New York City. In 1995 Michelotti launched her own line of jewelry inspired by nature and the sea. All of the pieces in the GM collection are cast in silver using an ancient Indian "lost wax" technique. The stones are uncut and natural, worn by rain and sand. Shells and madrepores eroded by waves, corals ramified in infinite ways, sticks and small rocks--in Michelotti's hands, these humble organic materials are transformed into necklaces, bracelets and earrings of such highly refined shape and physical lightness that one cannot mistake them for anyone else's work. With an essay by "The New York Times"' revered style editor, Stefano Tonchi, this volume features exquisite close-up photographs of Michelotti's jewelry, and details the life and creative path of an artist who has achieved an extraordinarily sophisticated aesthetic synthesis.