Phil Wykes has been on my radar for quite a while; however actually managing to meet the creative director and self-described “sole employee” of his own perspex jewellery company SstutterUK, can be rather tricky! Luck was on my side though after an early morning start, I was able to catch up with him at the Sunday Up Market at Truman's where he sometimes shows his unique pieces.
New collection - Sstutteruk
An advocate of Perspex as a material for his art, Wykes is keen to show the beauty and the possibilities of the medium through his own creativity. He starts a project with a shape which he then goes on to redraw many times until he's happy; he then goes on to the form, which he works with many layers in one colour; only then does he actually make the piece using scrap Perspex from his studio.Once he is happy with the result, the piece of jewellery is then ready to be road tested for any flaws that might appear while the piece is actually being worn. Finally, he makes the piece in his colour combinations, so the end piece is the result of many months of work
Here Wykes answers some of my questions about his amazing work.
A piece from the Drive collection - Sstutteruk
Out of all of your collections, which piece is your favourite and why?
On my tail, from the Drive collection would be my Favourite piece. The item is a rear view mirror and it reminds me that Ishould be taking risks and making things people haven't seen before. That's mainly what this is all about.
Africana collection - Sstutteruk
Where would you recommend someone to go for dinner in London?
My favourite place to eat food in London is Cirrik, which is a Turkish restaurant in Hackney. They serve the best Turkish food and you always feel like eating is an experience.
Supernaturals collection - Sstutteruk
Do you consider your work to be fashion accessories or more of art pieces?
3. I’d like to think my items are pieces of art since they don't particularly follow any brief. I’d call myself an artist before calling myself a fashion designer. Although many fashion designers are artists, much of fashion isn’t art. For the most part fashion is business and art and business rarely go together. When I’m more successful, perhaps then the items will be fashion.
Supernaturals collection - Sstutteruk
Pieces available from the Showroom Shoreditch or Phil Wykes direct