Eddie Borgo has teamed up with Tiffany & Co. to create a capsule collection of bangles, rings, and earrings all in 18kt gold inspired by the inimitable Mrs. Vanderbilt Whitney—founder of New York’s Whitney Museum of American art. The collab is a swanky nod to Tiffany’s commitment to sponsoring the next three Whitney Biennials. Eddie Borgo—winner of the CFDA/Vogue fashion fund Tiffany Development Grant—shares with Vogue Arabia, “I wanted the collection to reflect the visionary spirit and modern style of Mrs. Vanderbilt Whitney.”
Describing the 7-piece collection, in particular, the pearl drop earrings and bar pin, Borgo explains, “Each piece brings sensuous fluidity into structured form. I balanced the bold masculine lines of gold with her [Whitney’s] beloved pearls to evoke a feminine sensibility.”
Mrs. Whitney, a figurative sculptor first known for her monumental works and later appreciated for the intricate craftsmanship of her smaller pieces was a leading patron of American artists and a staunch supporter of women in arts. Whitney opened her own eponymous museum—which now boasts over 21,000 works by 3000 artists—after the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art denied her offer to give it her 700-piece collection of modern works. “I’ve read Gertrude’s biography, (by B.H. Friedman) and was so taken back by her extraordinary life as an American sculptor and art collector,” recalls the accessories designer.
Borgo’s ode to the legendary Mrs. Vanderbilt Whitney will be available at the Tiffany & Co. flagship store and online at Tiffany.com, for a limited time from November 15th.
See the exclusive sketches in the gallery above.
