Brand
BAR
Words by Imogen Clark
There is a glaring need to bring sustainability to the forefront of fashion, and Sophie Mckay’s planet-friendly yet fashion-forward jewelry brand BAR is on of the answers. Having worked as a designer and freelance consultant for some of fashion’s biggest names such as Versace, Burberry, and Tom Ford, Sophie decided to set up BAR in 2016. Straying away from the regular ready-to-wear buzz, she wanted to create something timeless and sustainable in design – a positive change to an industry which continually seeks something new.
The fusion of aesthetics with sustainability has created a range of jewelry that is season-less and has attracted the likes of Emma Watson and Naomi Harris. BAR is on its way to becoming one of London favorite up and coming brands. The jewelry collections draw inspiration from the modernist movement, focusing on the shape and form, referencing Jean Arp and Constantin Brancusi.
At the heart of BAR is its aim to be eco-friendly in all manners by keeping a close eye on the company’s impact on the planet and one of the ways they do this is by producing recycled sterling silver and using wrapping that is plastic- free. Sophie is aware that as the brand begins to grow so will its impact, and therefore she decides to make it “first and foremost based on how positive it will be to the wider world”. Each item of jewelry has a personal collection, starting its life in the brand’s East London studio. By hand McKay sculpts the prototypes, which is followed by a close collaboration with local manufacturers to produce them – they are visited regularly to check on orders and to think of new designs. BAR aims to persuade customers to make more conscious decisions when it comes to purchasing fashion.
Photographer: Thu Thuy Pham / Models: Vanessa Ohenlen, Zarina Shukri, Tsunaina
