Social Identity

According to Metcalf adornment has always been used to either distinguish or merge the wearer with social grouping. The power of jewellery is to enhance self-image and also to put a title for yourself. Jewellery beautifies, within the value system of the local culture, and sometimes renders the wearer socially or sexually desirable.

Figure 1- Nkabinde, M. (2018). Punched Disks Earrings.

Jewellery can build or break your image and what I mean by that is it can build a certain image to people around you which may lead to negative and positive connotation. The jewellery that you wear can state the kind of group you belong whether it is cultural or socially. My jewellery is mainly designed for females but it doesn't necessarily accommodate everyone taste or favourite. Simplicity and minimalism are my design principals I tend to focus on patterns with its meanings, patterns creating images and a hint of colour in my jewellery. On the picture below it is a pair of earrings inspired by isishweshwe, where I've taken patterns from isishweshwe to metal by using punching and drilling techniques. I think it relates to this Metcalf functions of jewellery because of the history behind my inspiration that only certain people know about and understands. Isishweshwe is a traditional fabric used for clothing and I've used that fabric to manufacture my jewellery taking patterns from it. People who are familiar with this fabric can easily identify that you belong to their cultural or traditional group hence i feel like my jewellery does belong to this function.