Bethan Laura Wood introduces Wood London

Bethan Laura Wood’s label, entitled WOOD London, carries a range of objects from jewellery to ceramics, as well as large installations. She has even been notably mentioned in The Observer as one of the “Future 500 Top Ten for Fashion and Retail” talent to keep an eye out for.

Having graduated in Three-Dimensional Design from the University of Brighton in 2006, Bethan Laura Wood followed her passion all the way to the Royal College of Art in the Design Products department. Her mentors in the college were great names like Jurgen Bey and Martino Gamper.

Bethan describes her work as “connections we make with the objects that surround us. As a collector myself, I like to explore what drives people to hold onto a particular object yet discard another”.

Her collection “Particle Jewellery” is a series of bracelets that, when not worn, can be used as building blocks. It reminds me very much of dominoes. “Particle Jewellery” started off as a way for Bethan to find a use for the leftover bits from her furniture pieces. It soon grew into a project of which she enjoyed being a part.

“Pivot and Push” is the collection we think is absolute genius. Bethan created this line in collaboration with artisan Eugene Lovato and Arduino Zappaterra. This inspiration behind it was the metal work found on buildings lining the streets and roads of Vicenza. Each ring can either ‘pivot’ or ‘push’, creating different ways of being worn by the wearer, every time the piece is worn.

With “Soft Rock”, Bethan has taken the form and colours of different rocks or mineral to create a delightful series of scarves. The outer edge of the scarf is dictated by the form of the rock rather then the conventional shape, allowing each to be worn in a different manner. Now that’s what I call rocking!

“Links” continues with the “Particle Jewellery” theory that wood should not be wasted, but that every inch of it should be used. The range is made from a repeated series of octagons, which decrease in scale.

Her creation entitled “Shelf” was an assignment during London Design Week in 2008. Here, Bethan took a discarded piece of a shelf and transformed it into a necklace, giving it a new life, a new purpose.

Bethan is a talented young lady who sees objects not only as jewellery but installations. Why not view her world through her eyes? Everything can be found on her website here; her creations as well as her inspiration.

 Pooja Sahny