Rediscovering Modernist Elegance: PAREL PAREL’s Julia Keilowa Collection
In the ever-evolving world of design, inspiration often returns to icons who shaped the past — and one such figure is Julia Keilowa, the visionary Polish sculptor and industrial designer of the 1930s. With PAREL PAREL’s latest jewelry line, the Julia Keilowa Collection, her legacy is reimagined and translated into wearable art for the contemporary era.
Julia Keilowa’s impact on Polish design is indisputable. She worked with prominent manufacturers such as Fraget, Norblin, and the Henneberg Brothers, before establishing her own workshop in 1933. Known for her bold forms, geometric sensibilities, and functional elegance, Keilowa’s work represented a modernist ideal — marrying utility with beauty.
PAREL PAREL draws deeply from this heritage. Their new collection doesn’t simply mimic Keilowa’s visual motifs; it reinterprets them, filtering her modernist spirit through contemporary jewelry craftsmanship.
Sculptural Jewelry Pieces: The collection includes rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and collier pieces — each designed with strong form and texture in mind. Oversized elements, graphic shapes, and rich textural detail echo Keilowa’s industrial design work.
Geometric Motifs: Spirals, cones, raised rims — motifs often found in Keilowa’s tableware and tray designs — make recurring appearances. For example, the Coil Silver Earrings reinterpret Keilowa’s signature tray (“taca”) motif in refined sterling silver.
Materials and Craftsmanship: The jewelry is crafted using techniques such as lost-wax casting and sand casting (or sand-derived molds) in sterling silver and gold tones. The process is artisanal, with careful attention to finishing, polishing, and the small details (for example, Keilowa’s tray rim, or industrial ornamentation) to evoke her modernist aesthetic.
Sustainability Mindset: PAREL PAREL emphasizes that this new collection is part of their sustainable jewelry line. The brand tries to minimize environmental impact, which pairs well with the timeless, durable designs.