Jewelry as contemporary fetishes: developed in collaboration with Crivelli, this project explores pleasure through sculptural forms, material experimentation and new ways of engaging with the body.
Pleasure
Thesis Project by S. Catapano - Undergraduate course in Jewelry Design - IED Roma In collaboration with Crivelli
Academic year
2025/2026
From ritual objects and symbols of protection to expressions of desire and identity, the changing meaning of the fetish provides the starting point for Pleasure, a thesis project by Stefania Catapano, developed in collaboration with Crivelli. Drawing on anthropology, pop culture and design, Stefania reimagines jewelry as more than decoration: a means of expressing pleasure, self-determination and the freedom to embrace one's own body.
Her exploration takes shape in a range of chokers, bracelets, rings, earrings and pendants featuring sculptural volumes, modular elements and striking contrasts between materials. Matte black surfaces meet polished metal details, while concave shapes and repeating geometries draw on the visual language of fetish objects, reinterpreted through contemporary jewelry design.
The design process combines material experimentation, modelling and prototyping, bringing together technologies such as 3D printing with PA12 nylon and CNC machining of aluminium with traditional jewelry-making techniques using silver, brass and bronze. A fashion shoot further explores the relationship between the pieces and the body, highlighting their sensory qualities.
Through Pleasure, jewelry becomes an everyday act of self-care and personal expression, where aesthetics and eroticism come together to explore pleasure as a means of empowerment.
Pleasure received the “MANI INTELLIGENTI” Award at Rome Jewelry Week 2026
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