Emily Factor teams up with jewelry line Alex and Lee

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Emily Factor may be a twenty-something, recent Central Saint Martins grad, but the designer shares the same 1970s, artsy sensibility with Alex and Lee, the jewelry line that was started more than three decades ago and combines hand-woven cord with fossils, stones and recycled objects.

Factor first saw a few vintage Alex and Lee pieces at Decades and was an instant fan of the intricate, hand-dyed and woven statement necklaces. ‘We share a brain,’ she said of jewelry designers Greg Francke and Lee Brooks, during a presentation of her spring/summer 2012 that was shown at a downtown art gallery Wednesday night. Their similar aesthetic was apparent through the heavily printed, diaphanous pieces from Factor that were anchored by heavily textured, colorful jewelry from Alex and Lee.

Leather clogs, sandals and boots from Calleen Cordero pushed the boho vibe a bit further, but this was no tired trope through the same luxe-hippy look so many L.A brands love to churn out in a more commercial manner each season. The artistic quality and handmade, hand-dyed details from each designer came through in a subtle and natural way.

And the event marked a return to fashion for the Alex and Lee line, which has essentially had a decade-long hiatus. The design duo also recently did the jewelry for Proenza Schouler’s resort collection and plan to get back into retail and creating new pieces.

--Melissa Magsaysay

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Photos: Looks from Emily Factor’s spring/summer 2012 collection worn with Alex and Lee jewelry. Credit: Todd Oren