Marion Vidal

Marion Vidal is a Paris-based jewellery designer who, since 2005, has been designing jewellery for her own brand as well as for other labels. Having studied architecture in Paris and fashion in Antwerp, she tirelessly explores shapes, formats, colours and materials, with a particular focus on relationships, connections and proportions. She enjoys experimenting with scale and pays particular attention to how her jewellery feels – both to the touch and when worn. Her jewellery is made by artisan jewellers and by small companies in France and Italy. She has also worked with artisans from Kyoto to showcase their traditional crafts of obijime weaving, screen printing, lacquerwork and gold-leaf gilding.

Marion Vidal’s project focuses on bamboo, from how it is grown and supplied to the traditional techniques associated with it, with the aim of designing a collection of jewellery and other accessories which can then be crafted by artisans in Kyoto. Her interest in bamboo lies primarily in its suppleness and solidity, strength and fragility – which offer a host of possibilities. Because of these unique properties, bamboo can be used to express connections and interactions, positive and negative spaces, and to create volume with very little material, thereby reducing an item’s carbon footprint. During her residency, she will familiarise herself with Japanese ceremonies and rituals and, from there, invent a “jewellery ceremony” which will underline the importance of taking time to put on, wear, remove, put down, put away and admire jewellery as a precious object, when it is no longer being worn.

Portrait : © Marion Vidal

-1 Sea treasure plastron © Marion Vidal
-2 Robot Plastron ébène © Marion Vidal
-3 Plastron homard © Marion Vidal
-4 Outheran marble necklace © Marion Vidal