Blending movement with shimmer, Dancing in the Wind is a jewellery line curated by Miss World 1986, Giselle Laronde-West.
From the sparkle of her rhinestone-encrusted silver crown to the brilliance of her own creations, Mrs. Laronde-West’s journey with precious metals comes full circle 40 years later.
The second woman from Trinidad and Tobago to win an international beauty pageant, following Miss Universe Janelle “Penny” Commissiong in 1977, she continues to break new ground without showing any signs of slowing down.
At the unveiling of her debut bespoke line, GL Collections, she said: “As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of my being Miss World, I believe this is the time for me to make my dream a reality. In this first collection, I wanted the jewellery to be totally Trinbagonian, not just a trinket and not costume jewellery.”
Mrs. Laronde-West said the collection draws inspiration from Trinidad and Tobago’s rich cultural heritage.
“I wanted it to be able to be precious, something that we would be able to create as heirlooms, hand down to our children, something that we want to share with our family abroad, that kind of thing, and I thought since I represented Trinidad and Tobago, that also had great meaning with what I wanted to do.”
She noted that beyond celebrating local culture, the collection was also designed to offer a unique experience for each wearer.
“No two pieces are alike, so the pieces displayed here will be sold as is, and if another buyer is interested in the same style or the same piece, your jewellery will be customised for you.”
The first edition of the Dancing in the Wind collection, designed and conceptualised by Mrs. Laronde-West alongside artist Reah Lee Sing, features 39 pieces.