Purpose of the look.

The bling-bling look that I would like to achieve is not merely in a sense of elaborate precious jewellery, but precious in the purpose I will create it for. The Xhosa bling jewellery will be the jewellery that talks merely to the status of a Xhosa man, I will look at the ornamented accessories that are associated with his milestones, beadwork and carried accessories, worn or installed such as smoking pipes, isagweba (knobkerrie) (see fig 1) or small bags made of goatskin. I would like to attempt to manufacture jewellery that has these kinds of expressions. I look at bling-bling as too many things going on or happening at the same time of which has a similar look with the Xhosa beadwork. The colors and designs of traditional Xhosa beadwork inspire me.

Figure 1 – Broster, J and Marten A, (1970: ) Xhosa man. (African elegance)