More about “Tango Chica Industrial Chic Dance Jewelry”©…from the Red Hot Kitties Metal Studio
It all started last summer, when a longtime friend dropped in for a visit. She had joined a Tango group, and danced almost every day. She taught me about “Milongas,” shared videos of her dancing associates, had printed cards proclaiming that she was a “Tango Advocate,” and was even planning to go on a Tango cruise!
In the course of indulging one of our mutual passions—shopping!—she was constantly on the lookout for “Tango jewelry.” This was not a brand, but a description applied to anything sparkly, glitzy, and dramatic, anything that would accessorize her many, many Tango outfits. While secondary to the all-important shoes (of which she admits to owning more than 50 pairs), the jewelry remains a major consideration. So, when I asked her, “If I were to design a line of Tango jewelry, what’s a good theme? What’s a catch-phrase, or popular jargon, that could serve as inspiration?” Immediately, she said, “Tango Chica!”
It took about a year of preliminary design, during which time nothing seemed quite right. There’s enough glitz out there in the mass-production market. I don’t do glitz, as a rule. But I DO do big, shiny, dramatic—and unconventional. As I experimented with new metal techniques, the right look suddenly came together—what I call “industrial chic”—which is all of the above.
So my new collection of “Tango Chica Industrial Chic Dance Jewelry”© has been birthed from a mix of my favorite trio of pure metals, copper, brass and nickel silver. These metals behave quite amazingly when torched, hammered, and folded like paper. Each finished piece of jewelry becomes a layered collage with lots of different textures. The larger creations, like pendants and bracelets, usually have a gorgeous piece of fused dichroic glass to add color and sparkle. Smaller pieces, like the earrings, have a bit of movement, plus sparkling crystal beads. Each design is a bit different, but all of them proudly proclaim “Tango Chica.”
The whole collection moves from casual to dress wear with ease. So, all you Tango Chica’s out there, at last you can wear your passion—not JUST to a Milonga, but anywhere you please!
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