The Chained Set

A pair of chainmail accessories, designed and crafted by hand. While chainmail is traditionally used as armor, I wanted to explore its use in fashion and jewelry. I made two pieces: an ornament that hangs around the neck like a necklace and wraps around the waist like a belt, and a halter top that clasps in the back without wrapping behind the neck. I used roughly 1,300 aluminum jump rings and a European 4-in-1 weave for both pieces, with a “back to work” chain for the necklace and a flower chain for the halter.

I started by drafting necklace and collar shapes with hanging pendants in mind, then built the pointed design row by row from a simple rectangle of chainmail. The wraparound design inspired the second piece, made from two triangular sheets connected by a flower chain. I experimented with different weaves and clasps, then adjusted the neckline and added support where the chainmail folded or bulged. These changes helped the pieces fit better and created small hooks for pendants.