HEAVEN TANUDIREDJA REACHES NEW HEIGHTS
We take a look at the latest collection of one of the most exciting accessories designers around.
Text by Lucy Moreno | Published 03 November 2009
Photography by Michael Smits
We delved into the gothic world of jewellery designer Heaven Tanudiredja a while ago with a collaborative film directed by Malcolm Pate and here we take a look at his latest S/S 10 collection. Inspired by his ancestors and childhood memories Tanudiredja always creates a world of fantasy, with all the small jewels that he has been collecting since he was a boy. Named Heaven by his grandmother his work is very much like his roots; rich, opulent and exotic and his S/S10 collection is no exception.
Dazed Digital: Tell us about your collection?
Heaven Tanudiredja:
It was a very simple inspiration. I was thinking about some of my friends who in my opinion are extremely great talent but trapped in their own cage. They can’t go anywhere but they want to protect what they believe in. And I translated that into a bird cage medallion, a medallion that has been protected by an architectural jet bird cage necklace.
DD: Why have you changed from designing menswear to jewellery?
Heaven Tanudiredja:
I started making jewelry when I was still in the Academy because I needed more money to make the collections for school, and it is still hard to believe that my jewellery can grow into a business now. But we still are looking for the right moment for me to launch my womenswear and menswear ... very soon hopefully.
DD: You collaborated with Dries Van Noten in the past, tell us about it?
Heaven Tanudiredja:
It was an honour for me to have the chance to discuss and collaborate with him in many ways while I was working there. And working with him was such a pleasant time for me.
DD: Where do you seek inspiration?
Heaven Tanudiredja: It comes from everything really. I mean we have so many things happening in this world today, it is almost impossible not to let them affect your inspiration while you are working on something.
DD: What are the difficulties faced being a designer today?
Heaven Tanudiredja:
I would say it’s very challenging. Perhaps in the past decade you make collections for only a (certain) group of people. Nowadays we have the whole world in front of us. If we make collections, it's for people in Europe and also for people in Auckland, to make them want to have the same things. Besides that, there are so many new people, talented designers, artists, scientists, politicians or whatever from everywhere coming up now. We have to invent a new world for all of us to live together.
DD: With whom you would like to collaborate?
Heaven Tanudiredja:
I always have been interested to collaborate with someone that isn't fashion-related. And I`m very happy that this time I had collaborate with PLEIX.
PLEIX is a virtual community of digital artists based in Paris. Some of them are 3D artists; some others are musicians or graphic designers. Let’s see how the collaboration will go in March 2010.
DD: What makes you happy?
Heaven Tanudiredja: Very simple actually, when I finish working on something that I think is very beautiful, I’m thinking maybe if I die I will go to Heaven.
DD:
Where can we see your work?
Heaven Tanudiredja: Dover Street Market-London, Liberty-London, Maria Luisa-Paris, Blake-Chicago, Visionaire concept-Monaco, Holt Renfrew-Canada, Lane Crawford-Hong Kong, Boon-Seoul Korea, Maxfield-Los Angeles, Scotties-Auckland in New Zealand, Ra in Antwerp and some more...
