30 Apr 2022 ///
Fashion

Curating Contemporary Amulets with Matter Of Fakt

The practice of making and wearing jewellery is as ancient as humanity; a universal act of adornment that binds cultures, creeds and communities – strung together through the thread of time. Surviving since prehistory, jewellery found in almost every region that humans have lived or settled in, denotes individuating systems of ranks, roles and spiritual protection; telling us the story of those before us. The oldest necklace we have found was discovered in a cave in Monaco; made of fishbones and dated to around 25,000 years ago; We can only imagine the importance and revelation these ancestors found in carving bones, shells and stones; and the kind of energy that was directed towards each piece made across the planet.

It is with this nostalgia and  reverence that Cape Town jewellery studio MATTER OF FAKT exists within, as a studio specialising in hand-forged jewellery. Founder and creative director, Mary-Anne Grobler, created Matter of Fakt’s inaugural collection in 2013 – initially as a remedy for her own struggles in finding jewellery that were both bold and natural. Nearly a decade later, MoF remains an accessible segway for its community into beautifully forged, clean and intentional pieces – through processes such as smelting, soldering, bending and polishing, headed up by senior metalsmith and manufacturer Prince Bright Gwesani. A poignant part of MoF’s success is their consistent depiction of the  environments in which their pieces can exist; close-ups of the brands’ various muses adorned in MoF pieces are both aspirational and inspirational.
On their in-house practice and aesthetic considerations, Mary-Anne says; “We hand forge pieces using traditional jewellery making techniques in solid metals; Brass, Silver and Gold. The intention behind designing this way is in creating Modern Heirlooms, pieces that will last and live forever with you. MATTER OF FAḰT is greatly inspired by the raw African Coast. We draw inspiration from nature in all its forms of matter; vast textures are integral in our aesthetic.” Each piece has been designed to form part of an ever-evolving curation of one’s own jewellery collection; and the idea of modern heirlooms are so apt in time where excess and discardment tend to rule. These are pieces that can be passed down and shared across families, friends and communities, “We have an array of pieces which are made to layer and add texture. Everyday pieces like the Classic Oasis Hoop earrings can be paired with an earring pendant. A Gold chain and Peso Coin pendant necklace can be layered with a striking choker. The Oasis bangles and rings can be collected over time as they work beautifully in three’s” Mary-Anne says – my favourite, among others, has to be the incredible joint holder pendant, up-cycled from brass bullet cases for your spliff to remain charged and protected.

/// Shop MATTER OF FAKT jewellery here.

Written by: Holly Bell Beaton

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