Barbara Segal – designer of iconic “Birkin” bag from natural stone

Natural stone is usually perceived as something basic and simple that can not exceed its simple condition. Nevertheless, the simplest things can lead to the strongest statements, especially in the field of art and creative jobs. Stone is a material that generates inspiration and even this can even assume the shape of luxury objects from famous collections. Moreover, the natural beauty of stone begins to be rediscovered – although used in monuments or sculptures since antiquity – and exploited more and more.

Barbara Segal is such an artist, with a personal style and vision, allowing a unique statement for natural stone, able to lead to a journey of self discovery for everyone. Who would have imagined that natural stone could be polished in a way that allows it to convey so much emotion? Imagine the emotions developed by a woman at the sight of a Birkin marble bag, so elegant in terms of look and texture, yet too heavy to be able to lift it off the pedestal? Powerless or simply a reflection of human nature? Is is possible that we develop excessive passion for material things, which it will ultimately hinder our own being?

Barbara's works of art are influenced by two large art trends, of Italian origin; Renaissance and Baroque. Both styles are distinguished by their amazing exterior appearance, besides the conveyed emotions. It will only take a look to notice the genuine details of her works, shaped by geometric shapes and colors that bind them to elements of nature.

Patterns used for her creations are no more than a form of expression used since the dawn of mankind, a history of art contained in a standard element of design. His creations are journeys by itself that awaken many emotions, from childhood memories reflected through her dresses, to the freedom of today's youths conveyed through fashion culture. You don't have to understand the artist’s message, because there are everyday things that look for an open gate to your emotion and in each and everyone can is able to evoke a different emotion. In the end, natural stone is an emotion defined by textures, shapes and colors, by nature itself.

All these objects with hidden stories were made from stone; many typed and shapes of marble, emerald, onyx, sodalite, calcite and many other minerals. From Chanel creations, to Hermes handbags, leather jackets, lingerie pieces and dresses, these are all based on layers of raw stone that assume the shape of social truths. A colossal work of art, painstakingly completed and finished to the smallest detail, with the aim of creating objects that exploit deeply our social life.

By using a form of classical art, Barbara Segal manages to transform a basic material into luxury objects, not only by concept and shape, but also by sensory experience, experienced in her exhibition. Regardless of the size of her creations, Barbara manages to shrink the massivity of natural stone into something soft, but also the ephemerals into something permanent.

We strongly believe that natural stone is not only a raw material that conveys stability, but also the essence and expression of both interior and exterior feelings, such as functionality in a common setting we call simple home. All our investigations are focused on understand better natural stone and its mechanism, an attempt to define it, by highlighting its pure beauty.