Luc Kieffer, a jewellery designer from Paris, visited Toronto for the first time during TIFF. A press preview party was held in his honour and I got a closer look at some of his fall winter 2010 – 2011 and spring summer 2011 collections.

Luc has worked with many fashion houses like YSL, Balenciaga, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Sonia Rykiel. It was interesting to her Luc talk about the time he met Yves Saint Laurent in person in 1996. Luc collaborated with Yves on his final collection. The Luc Kieffer line was launched in 2006.

Luc Kieffer jewellery specializes in high-polished resin with Swarovski crystals. Luc is a chemist by trade and that totally attracted the geek in me. That’s right people chemist = swoon in my books. Chemist turned jewellery maker is off the charts. I was told that Luc was a charmer. I wished I could speak french, it would have been nice to chat in his mother tongue.

He worked with Yves Saint Laurent on his final collection in 1996, and has since worked with fashion houses like Balenciaga, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Sonia Rykiel. Now, Parisian accessories designer LUC KIEFFER, who launched his eponymous label with his first collection in 2006, is in Canada for his first visit. LUC KIEFFER has made a sole stop in Toronto to showcase his high-polished resin pieces. The line includes bracelets, cuffs, pendants, earrings, brooches and more recently, cufflinks.

“The collections are designed to reflect different individual styles and each has a distinct character,’” said Luc Kieffer, who now has 23 collections. “Some of my designs are ‘un peu avant-gardiste’ but from what I’ve seen on Toronto streets and in boutiques, Canadians seem to be more fashion adventurous that what their reputation might be.”

From an atelier based just outside of Paris, the born-and-bred Parisian LUC KIEFER and his team of talented craftsmen create resin fashion accessories that emphasize colour, luminosity and the distinct sparkle of Swarovski crystal. They mould the resin in-house, then polish it to perfection to maximize the colour and impact of the chunky crystal-embellished pieces. Resin, like crystals and fine gemstones, sublimates light and magnifies colour like a prism with an infinite spectrum of hues. Each piece is handcrafted in France, affording a true artisan touch, and making each one slightly different.

I first came in contact with Luc Kieffer at Holt Renfrew. They carried his line for awhile and I would drool over the barbed wire bracelets. Hopefully a local retailer will pick up this fun line.