Carrera y Carrera’s Embroidery-Inspired Seda Imperial Collection

After last week’s trip to the Carrera y Carrera headquarters, I have a better understanding of what inspires the jewelry designs made by the Madrid-based brand. This year’s debut of the Seda Imperial collection of styles crafted in the likeness of embroidered designs—floral motifs (emperatriz), herons (garzas), and orchids or orquídeas, as well as Sierpes (a sinuous street in Seville that mimics the movement of fringe)—on woven shawls speaks to both the eastern legend of a garment owned by a Chinese princess and to the theme of a beautiful jewelry collection. Plus, parallels exist between the skills necessary to make CyC jewelry and hand-embroidered garments: Months of dedication and work by an expert bring both to life. Here’s an overview of each motif in the collection and how it translates from embroidery to jewelry.

Emperatriz in embroidery