Afterglow is a boutique Australian Jewellery Label

by Charms Baltis and Ben Neich

 

Australian Fashion Review caught up with Charms Baltis for some insight into her new boutique jewellery label Afterglow.

Who are the names behind Afterglow? How did you get into jewellery design?

Charms Baltis & Ben Neich are the creative duo behind Australian jewellery label Afterglow. Their designs are entirely handmade by old world artisans and painstakingly finished to perfection by the designers. Charms has been designing and making jewellery for seven years, initially working under Victoria Buckley in the Strand Arcade in Sydney before heading out on her own, compelled to start her first labelCharmaineBaltis Jewellery, that combined both fine jewellery construction with the boldness and freedom of fashion jewellery.

Charms and Ben joined forces last year when they saw a niche in the Australian market for robust jewellery that is made with traditional metal-smithing techniques twisted with feminine and intricate materials.

What can we expect from the Afterglow jewellery label in the coming collections?

Each Afterglow Jewellery collection is designedwith a vivid story line in mind, creating jewellery that is more than just hardware but a fragment of a story and built to last for generations.

As we push the boundaries of construction, coming collections will see even more innovative and emotive jewellery.

What do you hope to accomplish with your jewellery label? What is the dream!?

We are expanding our Australian stockists this year, starting with our attendance at Fashion Exposed in August. Once established in Oz we will expand internationally.

Just as important is the progression of our labels designs. We are creating collectors pieces and the evolution of our jewellery must be significant.

Who are your favourite fashion designers and what about them inspires you? What else inspires you?

Robert Lee Morris is my hero when it comes to jewellery. His designs are simple, powerful and strikingly beautiful. He worked with fashion designers including Donna Karan and quite possibly brought our industries together. He created this fantastic relationship with fashion and fine jewellery.

We have always been inspired by very old tribal jewellery, especially African and Middle Eastern. The shapes and forms are so graphic and more often that not have a spiritual significance, which we find fascinating.

Chloe’s clothing is precious and to me is something a little girl dreams about wearing when she grows up.

We are also inspired by myth and magic. Fairytale themes and mythological animals quite often pop up in our designs. We are big kids really!

If you could pick someone famous that best represents your labels style, who would it be? Alternatively, what famous person/s would you want wearing your label?

Jade Jagger isstrong, sexy and individual. I think we instinctively think of a similar person, man or women, when creating our jewellery collections. What she might wear, how far she will push her own boundaries and what is inspiring her that season.

Complete the following sentence: Afterglow jewellery is unique because……

The designers devote themselves to adapting old world silver-smithing techniques to modern designs, using nonconforming materials such as buffalo horn, Japanese Toho beads, crocodile leather and various precious metals.

Check out other recent fashion profiles