"Unzipped" an Interview by Jungle Gym Magazine

At Jungle Gym Magazine we always keep an eye out for creative people and new ideas. Some are difficult to spot, but designer Kate Cusack‘s amazing work was not. Kate has taken an ordinary item, the zipper, and transformed it into dazzlingly stylish bracelets and necklaces. Who would ever think they would be wearing a zipper around their arm as an accessory?

Kate has been featured in numerous magazines and has had her products worn by celebs. Her wigs are also very eye-popping, as are her other numerous creations. We had the chance to get the inside scoop on the wonderful Kate Cusack, in this interview she “unzips” some interesting facts about her finished works and the new projects that she is working on.

To read the full interview to find out answers to questions like "Where did the original idea to create jewelry from zippers come from" and "Can you tell us what theatrical influences you source your inspiration from?" please visit Jungle Gym Magazine.

Zipper Jewelry featured in Forbes Life (China) Magazine

Below are a few questions from the interview:

How did you think of using zipper to make jewelry?
My specific fascination with zippers comes from my general love of transforming ordinary materials into wearable objects of art.The pieces that I create are made from seemingly mundane materials and come to life when they are worn. The body is my canvas: I am fascinated by adornment, and excess. I am inspired by the repetition of ordinary items. I enjoy the sense of humor in elevating an ordinary item into something extraordinary.
When I see one item repeated in large quantity or in an extreme size, I start to see it in its very basic visual form. I begin to make associations based on shape, color and texture and I am freed from traditional restrains about what that item or material should be used for.

Can you say something about the sale of Zipper Jewelry?
Traditional jewelry, made with precious stones and metals, has a specific value attached to it because of the materials involved. Because the basic material of Zipper Jewelry is not highly valued like a diamond, the price of the Zipper Jewelry is derived from the value of the creativity and skill necessary to create it.

Do you ever think of using precious stone and noble metal as material to make jewelry?
Because I am not trained as a metal-smith or a traditional jeweler, I don’t consider precious stones or metal as materials for my work. I am more interested in working with unlikely materials and transforming them into new creations. There is an exciting “a-ha” moment when someone realizes that there is more to the design they are looking at.

Do you think luxurious jewelry is more attractive? Why?
I think there is a very special place for luxurious, traditional jewelry using metals and precious stones. It is a very different experience to wear traditional jewelry than to wear art-jewelry. I don’t necessarily think one is more attractive than the other. Good design and clever ideas are what make something attractive, to me. In my Zipper Jewelry, I make reference to traditional jewelry, but I add a twist of creativity, which makes it exciting and daring.

Zipper Jewelry featured on "Carnival of Shopping" Blog

Many thanks to Radhika for the feature on the Carnival of Shopping blog which is a part of a fashion and beauty blog called "Be in Style." It covers subjects like the latest in jewelry, fashion and beauty products.