A look from Area?s AW16 collection, incorporating an official collaboration with Swarovski. © Swarovski Corporate Archive
Austrian crystal-maker Swarovski celebrates its 125th anniversary this year with a new creative director in charge. Operating in sectors from infrastructure to telescopes, it is most famous for its crystal figures and collaborations with the entertainment and fashion industries. As a landmark book is published about the company, Harriet Quick explores a family-owned firm getting ready for the next 125 years
For a brand bringing sparkle to the world?s performance stage and symbolising the dazzle of fashion to be celebrating its 125th anniversary is some achievement in itself, given the changes in the world of entertainment and style since 1895. To be doing so as a family-owned company, run in part by descendants of the original founder, is even more so. But for Swarovski, provider of crystals and sparkle around the world, there is yet another dazzling fact: the company has done so not based on the rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré or Milan?s Golden Triangle, but from a small village in the Austrian Alps. Follow LUX on Instagram: luxthemagazine
The journey has been epic. Today, the company is managed by the fifth generation of its family members. This year, marking its 125th anniversary, has witnessed big changes. On the visual front, Italian-born fashion director and consultant, Giovanna Battaglia Engelbert has joined the company as worldwide creative director...