True trailblazers and the cool kids on every block, the Sarabande foundation was set up by Alexander McQueen in 2006. Since his death in 2011, he is survived by the organisation which has worked tirelessly to nurture more than 200 designers and artists. Returning for a fourth year, Sarabande’s House of Bandits pop-up eased us into the bedlam of Frieze Week. While the creative calendar carves out space for both art and fashion, jewellery tends to be somewhat of an afterthought. So, like the anarchic bunch they are, piggybacking on Frieze’s collector influx, Sarabande took matters into their own hands and hosted their indie jewellery showcase. Held at 5 Carlos Place (RIP Matches Fashion), the space could only be described as an Aladdin's Cave. While no genie's lamp was in sight, the sparkling smorgasbord tucked in glass cases was far more to my taste. Below are a few of our standouts from the showcase!
Perched on the sun-soaked bay window of the House of Bandits was Castro Smith and his library of handmade creations. Spread across the lining of an open jacket splayed on the windowsill, the whole scene was somewhat akin to a bougier rendition of a street corner salesman, but instead of trying to sling seedy goods and wares, your options were much shinier. Castro’s jewellery designs are inspired by history, mythology, and biology. Working with both silver and gold, and setting his pieces with rubies and sapphires, Castro's creations are as varied and technicolour as a field of flowers. With each piece hand-engraved, the intricacies of his designs reveal themselves over time, with birds, snakes, eyes, and other anthropomorphic creatures emerging from their stone-set hiding places. Brilliant blue shines or reverse-set diamond eyes blink back at you as you wear them on your hand.