New Materials Series

Plastic was invented by a Belgian chemist, Leo Baekeland in 1907; Bakelite was the first fully synthetic plastic containing no molecules from nature. During the Cold War access to glass crystals from Eastern European was limited and plastic beads replaced much of crystal glass beads in fashion accessories. The whimsical shapes and forms of vintage plastic beads made in molds never cease to surprise me. With requests to keep my necklace from getting too heavy, vintage and contemporary plastic beads provide both visual whimsy and a way to lighten the weight.

TOPPI (突飛) NYC - sumi nakazato -