The Attraction of Magnetic Jewelry
More and more designers are turning to magnetic jewelry for its ease and inclusivity
SMART BUSINESS
Making inclusive jewelry with magnets, which is easy to do without compromising design, should be a no brainer, not just from an inclusivity standpoint, but a financial one as well. “Fashion can no longer ‘vote’ to service a fantasy ideal customer that in reality, barely exists. And why should it want to? Historically there’s plenty of spend being left on the table because that non-fantasy customer was not being serviced,” notes Jessica Richards of JMR Design Consulting and the Trend Director of the Accessories Council. “Moving toward careful design and merchandising choices that are inclusive of a larger audience not only aligns with a more forward-thinking view of where fashion is going but is also financially responsible to grow business.”
"Making inclusive jewelry with magnets, which is easy to do without compromising design, should be a no brainer, not just from an inclusivity standpoint, but a financial one as well."
Richards advises brands to be more proactive spreading the word. “Merchandisers should re-imagine the storytelling of their product as it may already fill a need without design changes,” adds Richards. “Representation of more diversity in corporate retailers will certainly help to uncover some of these opportunities as open dialogues will drive new ways of thinking and approaching the merchandising of products.”
TRENDS
Of course, one can avoid the whole clasp issue altogether with longer, over-the-head necklaces, but in today’s screen-centric Zoom world, face-framing necklaces that hit at the collarbone are essential, especially those with trendy chain links. That adds another opportunity for jewelry designers who never considered magnets to do so.
“Ultimately, product design is driven by trends, which is driven by what consumers are doing more and what they need,” says Richards. “In this very digital world of Zoom everything and loads of FaceTime and ‘shoulders-up’ styling, I predict that we’ll continue to see a lot of jewelry silhouettes that work back to screen time. Thoughtful designers will be creating products that fit not just the trends, but also the applications of how they can best be worn, most comfortably, most secure. The best designers will also have considered inclusivity and customer diversity in their design and will be sure to add features like magnetic closures or the ability to add a magnetic clasp detail wherever possible.”