skip to main content

Friday Find: Mulholland Jewellery

A sample of Mulholland Jewellery
A sample of Mulholland Jewellery

From sculptor to jewellery maker - tell us about decision behind your career change and why you chose to move to jewellery?

My career change in actual fact went from jewellery to sculpture and then back again to jewellery in 2014. I’m coming back full circle to my roots! I first got into jewellery when, at the tender age of 15, I discovered that by making coffin lid earrings I could express my punk ideals through the creative process – and from that moment, I was firmly hooked on the adrenaline of creativity.

What is the most exciting feature of your job?
The creative process – it’s like magic and instinctively knowing that in those final stages of completion, it is going to be a good piece.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
The creative process! Attention to detail is everything and each piece is carefully considered and therefore one needs time to develop the work. It can be challenging finding the balance between making the work and developing the business side.

Fiona Mulholland at the 2016 Jewellery RDS Crafts Awards.

Talk us through the process of creating your designs?
My collections are a simultaneously sophisticated and funky fusion of innovative design thinking and contemporary craftsmanship.

The ‘Glow’ jewellery collection is based on a modular concept. Each piece consists of several layers of Perspex which are assembled in different colour combinations.Using only the edge of the Perspex, allows it a singular way of refracting light and every piece is unique.

My ‘Spectrum’ collection involves a different fabrication technique and is assembled from individual laser cut units and is affordable but yet maintains the same luminosity and formal qualities.

What is your favourite piece from your new/current collection.
As I make each piece myself, I often become very attached to the pieces from the ‘Glow’ collection as there is always an element of surprise in terms of colour combinations and a current favourite is the ‘Glow’ choker.

Fiona's must have - the glow choker

Describe the Mulholland Jewellery customer?
The Mulholland Jewellery range is for women and men who love to make fashion statements in unconventional ways and are definitely not backbenchers when it comes to expressing themselves.

What is the best piece of advice you would give when buying jewellery?
Make a statement – life is too short to play it safe, especially with jewellery. Consider commissioning your jewellery. There are so many talented designer/makers in Ireland. The end result will be more personal, better quality and doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be more expensive either.

If you could create a collection in collaboration with one fashion designer/brand who would that be and why?

I’ve always been a huge admirer of the work of fashion designer, Issey Miyake. His work is sculpture for the body and everything about it is truly innovative.

Necklace from the Glow Collection

If you could  choose one celebrity to be your Mulholland Jewellery ambassador who would it be ?
I feel very privileged to have met the wonderful [Irish] singer and actress Lisa Lambe who I would consider to be a Mulholland Jewellery ambassador and has been wonderfully supportive of my work.
 

Lisa Lambe performed on The Late Late Show last year

What and/or Who inspires you?
Light, colour and symmetry. Art, architecture and design. Landscapes – occasionally urban but mainly rural and wilderness. Although, I’m from Dublin, I am currently living in the North West and find the beauty of the landscape, the space and slower pace of life has helped fuel my creative work in very positive ways.

Where can we find you online?
People often send enquiries via the website about commissions or personalising colour combinations and designs which I’m very happy to do. 

You will find me online at my website, on Facebook Twitter and Instagram!

Check out Fiona's designs at www.mulhollandjewellery.com

Love this article? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Want to get in touch about featuring here? We'd love to hear from you e: rtelifestyle@rte.ie

Read Next