Italians, a people of… lovers, dreamers, creators. There’s a genetic bond between Italians and crafts; the art of making something anew from raw and ‘kaput’ materials. Architect and designer Maria Clelia Scuteri is one of these inventive people; who built her Invaerso by hand and heart, bolt after bolt.
The globally loved ‘made in Italy’ is the pride of the country; it reaches levels of uniqueness and ingenuity that reflect the varied flavour of this stretched land.
Maria Clelia combined both in her eco and chic approach to jewellery making with Invaerso [formerly Reuse Design].
Here she is, presenting her brand…
How and when was your brand born?
Reuse Design was born from the idea of creating very special and unique design objects by reinterpreting already existing resources. I always loved industrial materials, I find them very versatile items, and I think that their transposition in the jewellery field is something fascinating, attractive and different. I have always been chasing the most unique accessories to wear in my life, and at some point, I started to make them. As a designer, I need to create and give shape to my ideas. Reuse Design was born in 2013. At that time I was finishing university, and this project started as a parallel path. Over the years it became bigger and bigger after some publications and awards received: I have been published in Vanity Fair, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue, all in the UK. And last March 2020 I was chosen as one of the winners of the ‘Worth Partnership Project‘, a program of the European Commission about creating creative collisions between designers and SMEs across Europe.
Could you tell us something about your background?
I am an Architect and a Designer. I have been working for several firms here in Rome in the field of Architecture and Design, I also attended a II level post-graduation program in Venice in temporary architectures, and I also worked for a few months in Los Angeles. I define myself as a very eclectic and creative person; I love designing on every scale: I can design an architecture, an interior space or a product as well because the creative process behind doesn’t change. It is all in the approach you have, in the way you face the concept you want to develop. In jewellery happens the same thing: the jewels are tiny architectures to wear, they have their own shape, structure, skin and respond to precise proportional, ergonomic and aesthetic signatures. That’s why architecture and design are the branches of the same tree.
Where are you from?
I am from Italy, I was born and raised in Rome.
When have you met your passion for creations?
I think it always has been a huge part of me. Since I was a child I loved to create, invent, draw and express myself with something new. When I create or design, something magic happens: my soul expands towards the universe, and at that moment the impossible becomes possible, my creative brain starts working and at the end of the process that little magic remains. Designing is the feed of my brain and soul!
What’s your goal?
My goal is to spread a message of uniqueness, authenticity, and value through my work, and I have the ambitious mission to be a continuous source of inspiration for others. Reuse Design’s creations have many stories to tell and represent an unconventional approach to everyday life. ‘Be different, because your diversity is the most precious thing you have’. My vision is to create new horizons, perspectives, and opportunities through the meaning of my creations. Having a different point of view is something necessary because it enriches our way to face things and makes our views and thoughts wider. I would love to bring some ‘extraordinary essence’ into our ordinary life through Reuse Design; I also would like to spread an ethical message. Reuse Design is a fascinating brand and supports the circular economy!
How do you imagine your typical customer?
My typical customer is a dynamic person chasing always for new stimuli. Is a person that prefers quality over quantity in every aspect of life, is a class act and never an ordinary person! Is a person that stands out from the crowd or at least would like to.
What inspires you the most?
I don’t have something in particular that inspires me. I think that the inspiration is inside every one of us, and at some point, sooner or later, comes out. Reuse Design is a transversal project that melts together design, craftsmanship, technology, architecture and sustainability. The transversality of the final product corresponds to intellectual transversality: my mind is inspired by so many different things at the same time, it takes a bit on every topic and creates its internal connections. I think that art is everywhere; it depends on how we look at things that surround us. Everything is connected.
Do you have any inspiring place, such as a particular spot where you create or sketch your products?
Is not a physical place, everything happens in my mind.
Do you have any project for the near future?
Of course! I plan to grow up as much as possible as a brand, as a vision and as a mission to be shared with people with the same values. I am introducing 3D printing to my creations in order to have an even more unique product. The introduction of the technological aspect will allow me to invest in research and develop. I would like to invest also in the transparency of the supply chain, so as any customer would have the possibility to know exactly how the special piece they just bought it’s produced. I would like also to work on some genderless new collections, for him and for her. Right now I am working in a new collection with two European partners (with the Worth Partnership project, that I mentioned before); we are producing experimental jewels made of 3D printing, filigree and upcycled reused nuts. Stay tuned because some exciting news is coming!
Maria Clelia’s Invaerso is on Instagram and Facebook. The official shop is under construction and coming soon.
Invaerso is a metropolitan vision; mechanical pieces take noble shapes, those of wearable jigsaws. Maria Clelia’s architectural eye is in the minimalism and the dynamism of nuts and bolts, now able to move, rattle and wrap necks and wrists. It’s the new generation that asks for fashion and sustainability equally proportioned. You can join the change and allow your fantasy to fly away as you sip a Spritz along the Navigli or a Negroni at the Parioli. Another indie, another dream of Italy…
Valentina Chirico aka Valens
