Purple Rain

Purple rain pours down our weary faces, devoid of all colour and feeling. We are desensitized to emotion, the monotony of life restricting our freedom. In a world where colour ceases to exist we are left mechanized, swaying to the beat of another drum. We crave excitement, we crave fantasy and above all desire a universe where reality ceases to exist.Purple rain allows us to see colour again and suddenly there is an explosion of vivid colours swirling and twirling playfully around us. There is peace in the gentle cleanse of the purple rain and out of it A.Monaie Designs is formed.

Today I would like to talk about A.Monaie Designs, a handmade jewellery brand that is dedicated to bringing colour back into customers lives. From tranquil blues, to golden yellows inspired by the warm glow of the sunset, the aesthetic is simple: colourful handmade products that attracts its consumers through cunningly woven narratives. The use of colour was what attracted me to the brand as it allowed me to become part of its stunning story. Inspired by the vivid and ferocious ecosystem of nature each product battles for attention in the spotlight. The infusion of nature and colour is offset by quirky geometric shapes and Ankara prints influenced by the capital city of Turkey.

As an avid lover of both colour and nature I knew that the brand would fit both FadedSpring's ethos and represent my own identity too. I picked key pieces that were true to my own life experiences and would help shape my future. When picking products to review I am drawn to items that hold a secret waiting to be told. My first item was called a 'Piece of Paradise Puzzle' and the effortless juxtaposition between the gold and blue represented two seperate puzzles within me that were waiting to be explored. The first was represented by the 'blue' which symbolized my need to find tranquility in a world governed my hate whereas the gold was the small glimmer of hope waiting to be unlocked at the end of the tunnel.

The teal blue puzzle piece allowed me to connect with my spirituality and find out what made me unique as a person. I am unique because I listen to to the beat of a different drum, I am unique because I see emotion in colour, I am unique because I am not afraid to be different. I was endlessly teased as a child because I refused to accept that the popular people should have control over our destiny and was always a firm advocate for social change. Growing up I had minimal stability and learnt that in order to survive the battle of the fittest I had to create my own destiny and for a time it seemed like an impossible pursuit. Never underestimate the 'social other' because they are stronger than you think and will in time unlock their own puzzle pieces to follow their path to success.

The inspiration behind her collection is open to interpretation but to me it symbolizes 'hope' in a world where desolation is rife. In colour we see meaning and Amonaie's collection rejects 'normality' and embraces the kooky, the out-of the ordanairy and the weird. Like me the puzzle has transcended it's journey to enter a paradise where it is ok to stand apart from the crowd.

The next choker was inspired by the primitive ferocity of the jungle, hand painted in deep shades of dramatic blue and yellow. The craftsmanship is incredible and each little detail lends character to the finished necklace. What I love about this necklace is its roots in both primitive human culture and the natural world. I believe that we humans can learn a lot from the animal kingdom and learn to treat each other as equals rather than enemies. It saddens me that we continue to fight, to rain blood on the men and women that are our neighbors. The yellow and the blue represents our need to unite no matter how different we may be. If we all learnt to accept our flaws then maybe we can accept our humanity. To tie into the natural beauty of the two chokers that were sent to me I showcased two more extravagant necklaces that created an inter-relationship between minimalism and Grecian art decor. By tieing two distinctively unique styles together it heightened the importance of embracing the avante-garde. No matter what life throws at you remain on your feet and walk with pride and joy.

Stand tall, be a warrior and embrace your inner tigress. Wearing Amonaie's designs helped me realize that we should all tap into our capacity to defend ourselves against the legion of haters that will do anything to bring you down. Recently I have received a lot of hate from old classmates that cannot stand to see me successful and have set up a hate group against me listing reasons why I should not be alive- too 'ugly' too 'different' and unwilling to take their word as lore which in their eyes is an absolute crime. I say let the haters stew in a trap of their making because they will realize that not everyone will tolerate their despicable behavior.

I stand before you proud to be different and to represent a company that has the same desire to support difference is a dream come true. For all those who dismissed me look where I am now; a path forged by hatred has blossomed into a promising career and a platform through which I can help other people. The ethos is simple through social justice we can create a cohesive community where we accept one another without questioning their beliefs or flaws.

Behind every photoshoot is not just a story but a location that brings the narrative to life. Using a range of locations I wanted to use natural habitats such as woods to tie into the ethos of the necklace; driven by the freedom of nature. The scattered leaves and the battered branches are the gnarled remnants of my past, left behind as a reminder of what I have survived to get where I am today. Drawing inspiration from the simplicity of nature my outfit was minimalist with a pop of colour to contrast against the neutral palate of the wood.

The aesthetic of this outfit shows a direct contrast against both the location and the necklace. The purple skater dress has ruched detailing that is reminiscent of Ancient Grecian toga's while the platform peep toe boots is a nod to the 70's creating a cultural and historical clash. I kept accessories to the minimal to heighten both the simplicity of the necklaces but also to showcase the natural woodland environment.

I based my character on Pocohantus by tieing my hair back and looping it in a messy braid to frame both the vulnerability and the strength hidden in my face. I filled in my brows to accentuate my tan and also to achieve the warrior look that I see within Pocohantus. To me she is more than just a Disney princess but a warrior queen who like me fought adversity and won.

I stand before you today proud to be different and each of these necklaces show why. The jungle choker represents my ferocious need to survive in a world where equality ceases to exist, the puzzle is the key to my own happiness, the Grecian coin necklace is a reminder of the success I have earned and the multi-colour geometric pendant allows me to see the world in colour when everyone else around me sees it in grey.

I want you all to learn to love yourself and embrace what makes you unique. I want you to choose a jewellery brand that can empower you and let you see for the first time what a special indiviudal you are. Beauty may fade with age but it is the beauty within our soul that should be allowed to shine through and what better way than through jewellery that empowers you.

Now I bid you goodbye and hope that you encounter the same spirituality as I did with A.Monaie Designs, a jewellery outlet where segregation, war and bloodshed cease to exist and instead the gentle rustle of palm trees and the crunching forest twigs is the soundtrack to your harmonious journey. Remember to show her some love and click here to by the two pieces featured in this article.

Much Love Springbots xox

Photography- Jumanna Khanom

Necklaces- A.Monaie Designs Puzzle & Jungle Choker ,

Lily Lulu's 'Coin' and Grecian pendant (Camden Market)

Dress- Topshop (old season)

Boots- H&M