Who Was Elsa Peretti? A Look Back At The Iconic Designer's Life And Career
Elsa Peretti died last Thursday night of natural causes, as announced by her family. The ex-model and jewellery designer became famous worldwide due to her timeless collections that were often inspired by nature.
Though Peretti was born in Florence, it was only when she moved to Barcelona in the 1960s and soon after to New York that she began to work as a model for Halston and other important designers of art and fashion. It was then that she started making jewellery, using the designers she worked for to include her pieces in their line ups.
Her friendship with Halston was a strong one and it was this relationship that helped to introduce her to the team at Tiffany & Co. in 1974, an exclusive collaboration that lasted throughout her career.
A masterful artisan, she marked a revolution in jewellery design. In the past nearly 50 years, Elsa has created some of the most innovative jewellery and object designs in the world. Peretti's iconic designs were also incredibly modern. The Bone Cuff bracelet for Tiffany, the bean designs and open heart pendants are among her most recognisable works.
She also believed that caring for and protecting the planet is a duty for all of humanity. "We could do much better. I am trying to do something good." As president and founder of the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation dedicated to her father's memory, Peretti was also committed to supporting the environment, social welfare, human rights, as well as the preservation of the arts and culture.
