Coline Assade, Winner of the Winterson Prize 2016

Eclectic degree collections from jewellery design’s future stars went on display at Central Saint Martins last night (June 23rd), where Coline Assade was announced as the winner of the 2016 Winterson Prize for the Best Use of Pearls.

The influential arts institute’s annual graduate show saw students presenting original pearl pieces, created with advice and support from Winterson Director Andrew Fraser and Creative Director Alice Cicolini.


Coline was named this year’s winner of the prestigious pearl prize for her collection ‘Unconventional Femininity’, an exploration of identity and self-expression. Graduate Chlóe Valorso also received a special commendation from the judges for her work.



Each year we look for work that demonstrates an understanding and appreciation of the pearl and, with such a high standard on display this year, Coline was an excellent winner.


Coline described her collection to us: “My collection was about femininity and identity. I wanted people to be more playful with their identity and make them raise questions about what is gender and who they really are. I used the pearls as playful moving parts of the jewellery. On the ring there’s a contradiction between the very round and colourful shapes, so you can choose what you want to wear and what you want to hide.”


Commenting on the award, Winterson's Creative Director Alice Cicolini said "Coline embraced the pearl and put it at the heart of her collection, celebrating the uniqueness of the baroque pearl as a symbol of feminine individuality. We were impressed by her willingness to experiment and her bold, distinctive voice."


A throughly deserving winner for this year's prize, congratulations Coline!


Read more about Coline and the other CSM designers' work here.

Image Credits:

With thanks to Coline Assade

Tia Liang

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