Press Release
Flora Octopus Brooch by Nana Watanabe Wins the Bronze A' Design Award in Jewelry Design
Nana Watanabe honored for jewelry design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 16, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Flora Octopus Brooch by Nana Watanabe has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Jewelry Design category. The recognition forms part of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Bronze A' Design Award
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
Regarding Flora Octopus Brooch
The Flora Octopus Brooch fuses contemporary jewelry with embroidered sculpture, presenting a lightweight yet voluminous form inspired by imagined marine life. Instead of conventional metals or stones, it employs recycled threads and organza to create texture, fluidity, and organic movement. The three-dimensional embroidery construction reflects sustainability and innovation, while the vivid interplay of colors transforms thread into a sculptural medium. This brooch serves as both ornament and statement, highlighting artistry and ecological awareness in contemporary jewelry.
About Nana Watanabe
NANA WATANABE is a Japan-based jewelry designer creating sculptural embroidered jewelry inspired by nature and an imaginary paradise. Using lightweight textile techniques, her work combines art and fashion while emphasizing sustainability through the use of recycled materials. Her unique approach transforms thread and fabric into three-dimensional forms, offering a new perspective on contemporary jewelry. Her works have gained international recognition and have been exhibited in cities such as New York, Milan, and London. Through her practice, she explores the relationship between nature, material, and imagination, creating pieces that bring a sense of wonder and individuality to the wearer.
Award Record
This recognition makes Nana Watanabe a winner of 2 A' Design Awards. The awards were granted between the 2024 - 2025 and the 2025 - 2026 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Jewelry Design Award
The A' Jewelry Design Award is an international jewelry design competition recognizing good jewelry designs by best jewelry designers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to jewelry designers, jewelry brands, jewelers and goldsmiths from all countries. Typical entries include rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, brooches and pendants. The awarded jewelry designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/jewelry
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/176096
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/176096
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!176096
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/355567
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://nanawatanabe.com
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Flora Octopus Brooch
- Function
- Brooch
- Category
- Jewelry Design
- Discipline
- Fashion Design
- Industry
- Luxury and Fashion
- Colors
- Lavender, Light Gray, Silver, Thistle and Dark Gray
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Nana Watanabe
- Country
- Japan
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #176096
Credits
- Image Credits
- Photographer: Sayuka Tanaka, 2025
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Flora Octopus Brooch combines textile embroidery with sculptural jewelry design, creating a lightweight yet voluminous form that resembles an imaginary marine creature. Unlike conventional jewelry made of metal or stones, it uses threads to express texture, fluidity, and movement. Its unique fusion of embroidery and three-dimensional construction highlights sustainability and artistry, offering a distinctive alternative in contemporary jewelry.
- Inspiration
- The design was inspired by the organic beauty of marine life, particularly the graceful yet mysterious form of an octopus. By combining floral motifs with oceanic imagery, it symbolizes both fragility and strength, evoking a sense of an imaginary paradise where nature and fantasy intertwine.
- Research
- This research set out to challenge the historical paradigm of jewelry design, which has traditionally relied on metals and gemstones, by exploring the potential of textiles as a primary medium. Through the observation of natural forms, material experimentation, and iterative prototyping, a unique methodology was developed to sculpt fabric into three-dimensional structures. In particular, the layering of organza on the exterior with softly inserted tulle inside creates an airy volume with translucency and subtle gradients of color. This technique evokes the ethereal beauty of marine life, with its transparent and fluid qualities.
- Challenge
- The greatest challenge was transforming soft materials such as thread and fabric into a sculptural form that could maintain its structure. Conventional methods failed to provide stability, which led to the development of an original sewing and assembly technique. Another difficulty was to ensure durability while keeping the piece lightweight, so that it could be safely worn even on delicate fabrics. This was achieved through extensive material research and close collaboration with embroidery specialists. Furthermore, by filling the interior with loosely arranged tulle instead of tightly packed wadding, the design introduces a sense of air and transparency.
- Realization and Technology
- The brooch is created by layering recycled polyester organza with high-precision machine embroidery, then hand-assembling the pieces into a sculptural form. Instead of relying on traditional jewelry materials such as metal or gemstones, the design employs thread as a primary medium to construct a three-dimensional organic structure. This innovative approach redefines the boundaries of jewelry design, combining lightness, sustainability, and artistry in a single piece.
- Operation and Interaction
- The brooch is easily attached by inserting the pin through fabric, offering a secure yet lightweight hold that does not damage even delicate garments. Once worn, it instantly transforms ordinary attire into an artful statement, embodying the organic beauty of nature. More than a decorative accessory, it offers a sensorial and expressive experience, allowing the wearer to carry a piece of sculptural poetry as part of their personal style.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project began in April 2025 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, and was completed in June 2025. It was first unveiled at a solo exhibition in Tokyo in the same month, where it was introduced as a new approach to contemporary jewelry expression.
- Specifications
- Dimensions: 16 x 18 x 15 cm Weight: approx. 10 g Materials: recycled polyester fabric, brass fittings, nylon. Despite its voluminous size, the brooch is extremely lightweight, ensuring comfort and making it suitable even for delicate fabrics. The design balances artistic presence with everyday practicality. The packaging is made from recyclable paper, further emphasizing the brand's commitment to sustainability.
- Keywords
- Embroidery, Textile Jewelry, Sculptural Brooch, Sustainable Design, Recycled Materials, Organza, Tulle, Transparency, Nature Inspired, Marine Aesthetics, Innovative Craft, Ethical Jewelry
