By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Shops everywhere may be filled with mass-produced earrings, bracelets and necklaces, but women are looking for unique jewelry and accessories to make them stand out from the crowd.

This desire for one-of-a-kind jewelry is fueling the growing popularity of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) jewelry making. Making your own earrings or necklaces is not just cheaper, but it's also a fun hobby and a great way to inspire creativity.

Beads and semi-precious stones are often used in DIY jewelry making, but perhaps the most popular materials are sparkling crystals from Crystallized-Swarovski Elements.

``Korean consumers are highly brand conscious, very much into trends and not afraid of expressing their identity through fashion. Koreans are fast in adapting global fashion trends ? and that's where Crystallized- Swarovski Elements (brand name for loose crystals) comes into the picture,'' Christoph Kargruber, Swarovski vice-president for operations for crystal components business in North and Southeast Asia, told The Korea Times, in an email interview.

Swarovski has capitalized on the growing DIY jewelry making trend in Korea, with its online community http://www.create-your-style.kr, where enthusiasts can learn about jewelry making, new techniques and buy DIY kits from Korean brands such as Leda, My Me and Cri Style.

``Create Your Style (Web site) finally shares the lifestyle of creating their own designs with crystals for every creative individual. We would like to create a global community of creative people to share their experiences,'' Kargruber said.

Swarovski also recently organized a Crystal Beads Fair 2009 at Hyundai Department Store, COEX, southern Seoul, which was attended by women of all ages, from students to housewives to office workers.

At the fair, U.S.-based jewelry designer Laura Timmons conducted special wire crocheting classes, where she showed how to create a multi-colored crystal bracelet in just over an hour. This was her first time in Korea, but she was impressed by her students' dexterity and ability to pick up the techniques quickly.

``What I hope to do is inspire my students to think out of the box, and use the crystal elements in different ways or use unusual elements in new ways. Like this crystal mesh is usually used in clothing, but I used it in a necklace,'' Timmons told The Korea Times.

Timmons has always been designing jewelry all her life, but professionally for nine years through her line Vintage Moon Creations. She creates stunning necklaces and bracelets made of twisted wire and colorful Swarovski crystals, but it may come as a surprise that she doesn't sketch her designs. ``I just get the crystals and start working, and then the piece creates itself,'' she says, with a smile.

Inspiration for her jewelry designs comes from a variety of sources, like art (her favorite Monet or Degas paintings, for instance), nature, people and feelings.

Making one's own jewelry may be intimidating for beginners, but Timmons says: ``just relax, breathe and open your mind.''

Aside from the classes, the fair also had an exhibition of crystal-encrusted jewelry, accessories, interior decor items and packaging items by local and foreign designers.

Through events like the Crystal Beads Fair, Kargruber said the company hopes to ``give inspiration and opportunities to creative individuals to participate in creating their own style.'' Swarovski also hopes to connect with its consumers and create new consumer demand for its products.

`` During the time of difficulties, we believe that investment in our core competency would enhance our business and support our customers. Thus, we will implement further investments in new and innovative products and brand awareness campaigns,'' Kargruber said.

Source-koreantimes

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr