Fashion Meets Functionality in Lucite®-Inspired Acrylic
Lucite has been used in all manner of products from aeronautics, jewelry, periscopes, architecture and more. But, where did this amazingly versatile material come from and what exactly is it?
It all began in the 1930s when acrylic businesses ICI and DuPont joined to create Lucite International. The company pioneered commercial technology processes for acrylic, registering the name PERSPEX® (which means, "to see through" in Latin) for their product. The material itself is lightweight and shatter-resistant, especially when compared to glass.
Frosted acrylic flowers and leaves are at the forefront of jewelry designs and the trend isn't losing any clout. Between the saturated flashy hues or the gentle and subdued pastels, Lucite-inspired materials are off limits in no color palette. Since acrylic is also incredibly lightweight, designers have no fear of creating designs uncomfortably heavy even when layering and clustering products together. For this reason, earrings benefit greatly from the glass look-alike for extravagance without any headache. The matte finish lends a wonderful contrast against all metal tones, more sparkly materials such as crystal and even with the timeless luster of pearls. Used in wire-wrapping applications and all manner of jewelry-making techniques, Lucite-inspired acrylic proves itself once again as one of the most versatile, and therefore sought after, components. In fact, all acrylic seems to be enjoying a well-deserved resurgence in the fashion world harking back to the days of I Love Lucy.
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