
Calgary Jewelry Designer Collaborates with Maison Matthew Gallagher for Spring / Summer 2014 Presentation
Calgary, AB (Monday October 21, 2013)
Geologist and Jewelry designer, Mary Lou Banks typically works out of her in-home studio in NW Calgary. On October 23, however, she will be seated in the front row at World MasterCard Fashion Week watching her jewelry on the runway at Maison Matthew Gallagher’s Spring/Summer 2014 show. The Calgary-based designer was invited to create jewelry for the show by Gallagher, who was called “The one Canadian Designer to watch (who wowed us at Toronto Fashion Week)” by the Globe and Mail for his Fall/Winter 2013 collection.
Banks, a consultant geologist by trade, has been designing jewelry since 2008 after a trip to Paris. “I love the way Parisian women accessorize, they embrace their femininity, they wear colour and they love asymmetry,” says Banks. “I’ve always felt that jewelry is an extension of who we are—different stones, colours and shapes speak differently to every one of us. And that in itself is unique and beautiful.”
The pieces created for the upcoming show have been appropriately named MAISON. Banks and Gallagher collaborated on the designs, which include 13 different pairs of earrings for the 20-piece collection to be presented to Canada’s top fashion media, retail buyers, and style enthusiasts. The earrings are made of coloured Swarovski crystals.
Matthew Gallagher’s Spring / Summer 2014 collection was inspired by the women he encountered during summer breaks while he studied in Milan. “Their holiday style was effortlessly chic, it captivated me,” says the 27-year-old rising Canadian designer. “Italian women don’t shy away from statement jewelry and Mary Lou’s European aesthetic was a perfect match for this collection.”
Images of the MAISON designs will be released to the media following the presentation on October 23rd. For more information on Lulu B Designs visit www.lulubdesigns.ca and for more on Maison Matthew Gallagher visit www.maisonmatthewgallagher.com. The show at World MasterCard Fashion Week will be at 7PM EST before Mackage and Joe Fresh.
Media are invited to contact:
Jason Krell, Official PR for Lulu B Designs: 403-862-7380 | jkrell@largecommunications.com