Eclectic Jewelry and Headdresses by House of Malakai
- Category: Fashion, Style & Trends
- Practices: Creating clothes, Jewellery Assembling
Modern jewelry designers can rarely impress me with their skills and ingenuity. I present to you the works of those who succeeded. Today I will tell you about one of such contemporary designers — House of Malakai. I think it will be very interesting for you too.
The House of Malakai founder is a multidisciplinary self-taught artist who has been creating custom jewelry and headdresses since 1999.
It all started when he moved from southern California to San Francisco in the late 90s to start a career of a DJ. Soon enough he became popular in the Dutch underground scene for his ability to create sophisticated images and colorful costumes. In 2013, he moved to Bali (Indonesia), the designer created his own brand of avant-garde accessories named House Of Malakai. Today the brand has studios in Bali, Berlin and Los Angeles.
House of Malakai works can be seen on pages of leading fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Elle, W, Rolling Stone, Dazed.
Here are some parts of a Vogue interview with designer:
"How did you come up with the idea of creating jewelry?
— It happened in parallel with my performances. I wanted to make a collection with a major visual effect, so I orientated my creative team on this. When we made the first look, I posted it on Instagram and received a lot of positive feedback. Ultimately it was a way to convey to the public my artistic vision as well as others are beginning to make, for example, handbags or hats, starting to develop full-fledged collections.
— You made an unusual career in the underground San Francisco art, ranging from musical performance to design clothes. How it all started and why did you choose Bali as the headquarters of your brand?
— I started to make clothes by myself, that was the beginning of my "journey". At the age of 19 I began performing with fire, and it turned into a burlesque dance. Then I went to Bali with my friends from California, who loved this island, and only there I was able to create a full-time creative space. By the way, this is a popular place among such independent artists as I am.
— How would you describe your performances?
— I combine various types of art such as dance, light shows, fire animation and color, piercings. I really love the visualization, for example, I often use burning wings. I am often invited to such shows as Cirque du Soleil and festivals: Burning Man, Coachella and Torture Garden.
— You have a very special world filled with mysticism and spirituality. Where do you get inspiration?
— My work is heavily influenced by subcultures: goths, punks, hippies. I have already put my ritual and tribal vision there. My creations are largely a reflection of my worldview. Tribal culture has a powerful energy because it is inextricably linked to nature and relies on spirituality. Mystery, myths and supernatural are parts of my world. I often use natural and symbolic materials such as bone, feathers, stones and crystals.
— Your work requires extraordinary skills and innovative ideas. How did you develop your unique concept?
— I like to mix primitive crafts with modern and futuristic elements. I usually start with sketches, and thanks to the years of mastering these methods (e.g., laser and digital design) and to my team, they transform into unique items. My passion for learning means a lot, I love to learn something new every day.
— Did you found your own brand because you wanted to combine the underground movement with the culture of ancient tribes? What does this mean for you?
— House Of Malakai is a reflection of the lifestyle that I led for a very long time. This is the world I came from. In the end, I just applied it in the context of fashion. I travel a lot and I am also a member of neopagan and circus communities, dance culture and various festivals.
— Why did you decide to collaborate with other brands?
I consider cooperation as a harmonious relationship, it is a way to reach different audience and be part of a great show with a worldview similar to mine for me. It's also a great way to connect with other creative minds. I collaborated with Manish Arora, Norisol Ferrari, Rick Owens, Joshua Reno and many other creative people.
— What are your plans for the next few years, in what areas do you want to grow and develop?
— I would like to expand the product range, open more stores and ultimately to include apparel in my collection, thereby strengthening its presence in the fashion industry and entertainment. Given my past performances, I have a really creative approach to my own shows and exhibitions."
House of Malakai was initially created as a street wear couture brand that focuses on quality, craftsmanship and innovative craftsmanship. The collection is very popular among fashionable young people, especially in London, Tokyo, New York, Paris and Seoul.
Extraordinary creations of HoM became favorites of many famous musicians and celebrities: Madonna, Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Skrillex, FKA Twigs, Erykah Badu, CL. You can not ignore brand's jewelry when it appears in many music videos and shows, as well as in advertising campaigns for Nike and H&M.
House Of Malakai has created a rich headdress of a goddess and body jewelry for performances of Beyonce's "Love Drought" on Grammy 2017.
Thus, the House of Malakai's style is influenced by couture fashion, cultural heritage of antiquity and underground movement. Ancient tribal culture and ethnics easily infuse with cutting-edge technology and futurism in versatile designer's hands. His work anticipates our time, it is an iconic memory of something we've never seen before.
Thank you for your attention and I will be glad to read your comments! :)