Katy Hester

Inspired by the spontaneity of children’s crafts and the enchanting world of the circus, my collection Clowning Around celebrates freedom, joy, and movement. It highlights the importance of play in the creative process and everyday life, inviting wearers to take a break from routine and embrace a moment of whimsy.

Revisiting childhood crafting methods like collage and finger painting, I embrace messiness and instinct. This allows me to create freely, without pressure of perfection, leading to more honest and intuitive ideas that rekindle the pure joy of making. Using mixed media, each piece echoes childhood handmade objects – paper crafts and improvised constructions, reinterpreted into wearable art.

The circus, with its vibrant imagery and sense of wonder, serves as visual and conceptual inspiration. Designed to fidget with, pieces feature moveable parts that engage the senses. This playful interaction encourages humour and a touch of silliness, offering a refreshing contrast to everyday routines.

Ultimately, Clowning Around aims to create an atmosphere in which wearers feel free to reconnect with a sense of childlike wonder. By breaking the seriousness and encouraging play, it celebrates the creativity, curiosity, and joyful expression that enrich both art and life.

This portfolio follows on from my Clowning Around collection, exploring more abstract interpretations of circus performers, with a strong influence from the hypnotic art of bubbleology. Inspired by designers such as Cara Lowe and Tatty Devine, and their playful approach to jewellery, I have designed 10 wearable pieces that are sure to bring joy to any wardrobe.

My concepts were developed from visuals of circus performances, including aerial acts, hula hooping, juggling, and bubbleology– bubble performance art. I was particularly intrigued by bubble performance and consequently explored the many shapes bubbles form when blown in the air and onto surfaces by mixing various mediums with bubble solution. I was also inspired by the interesting shape of the bubble wands themselves. To capture the fluid motion and forms created by performers’ bodies, I used simple shapes and flowing lines to really focus on this aspect.

Colour plays a key role, with bright hues and striking, contrasting combinations to catch the eye and reflect the vibrant atmosphere of the circus. The pieces are lightweight thanks to the use of PLA, which relates to the grace with which performers move, making their skills look easy even though they are anything but. Combined with gemstones, the PLA structures create a balance between playfulness and sophistication. Blending circus-inspired themes with experimental materials and playful aesthetics, this collection turns jewellery into wearable art that inspires curiosity, confidence, and joy.

These pieces are aimed at those who enjoy bright colours and bold expression and view fashion as a creative extension of their personality. The target audience is fashion-forward, expressive, and drawn to statement accessories. They may already be involved in fashion movements and alternative styles such as Harajuku, embracing playful accessories with theatrical aesthetics. The designs are also well-suited to creatives and performers, including artists, dancers, musicians, and content creators, who often employ distinctive visuals as part of their identity and brand. The lightweight nature of the jewellery makes it practical for styling and for use in performance, and its strong visual impact may create a memorable impression for wearers on social media.