by shirley chiu
fusion of architecture and artistry
Shirley Chiu
Designer. Architect. Entrepreneur
photo credit: THomas Park
The spirit of SC Collection is deeply rooted in its designer Shirley Chiu’s background as an architect. The interplays of form, volume, simplicity and structure create pieces that are distinctive in three-dimensional expressions. SC Collection is founded on Shirley’s love of manipulating materials by hands. With a global upbringing in fashion-centric cities like London and Hong Kong, Shirley also developed an innate awareness of styles and aesthetics. This fusion of architecture, artistry and fashion sensibilities result in designs faithful to modern clean lines that are also sensual, fresh, feminine and pleasurable to wear.
Shirley Chiu received her degree from the University of London in 1991 and architectural license in 1993. She spent a decade practicing architecture while honing her skills in jewelry creation. SC Collection debuted in 2005. The base collections “Square”, “Oval”, “Cube”, “Cone” and “Resonance” were immediately sold in the prestigious Walker Art Center, the Menil Collection, the Wexner Art Center, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as high end boutiques across the US.
To date, SC Collection has grown to 17 collections. The recent “Lattice” and “Wirenet” creations juxtapose an aesthetics delicate in expression and touch, yet strong in physicality and construction. A colorful shimmer is introduced in “Dome Sparkle” and “Wrap Sparkle” by encapsulating and suspending gemstones with unconventional techniques. Through design evolution, Shirley continues to realize her vision of jewelry as timeless objects of beauty.
The pieces are lovingly designed and crafted in Seattle, using precious metals recycled from old coins from a local foundry. Shirley is also the founder a non-profit group, the Recycle Circle project. Their mission is to recycle surplus industry samples into beautiful and functional products for sale to support charities in the arts.