ALCHEMY’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY SOIREE SUCCESS!

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Come the afternoon of January the 24th, everything was in place for Alchemy’s 30th anniversary celebrations in London’s fashionable Bloomsbury district. The studio’s dedicated design team worked like demons to turn the district’s famed Horse Hospital from a space more used to hosting avant-garde art displays and independent film festivals, into a candlelit Gothic gallery of decadent diversions and vintage curiosities for the evening. The walls were adorned with frames showcasing Alchemy’s three decades of jewellery design, glass cabinets erected to display everything from silver candelabra to opulent goblets and bespoke leather jackets, solid oak thrones from the studio’s Elegy Furnishing Company collection installed to complete the setting in suitably grand style.

When the doors opened, as visitors ascended the Horse Hospital’s distinctive sloping entry hall, they were greeted by the exquisitely sombre tones of the Metropolitan string duo. The duo’s lovely virtuoso Verity Harding had rescored several pieces especially for the soiree, and among the more familiar classical pieces, were compositions by bands like Metallica and Black Sabbath, given a new macabre dignity expertly reinterpreted for violin and cello. Scenes from forgotten masterpieces of silent cinema came to life on the silver screen of the wall, with stars from Hollywood’s lost silent age like Theda Bara and Lon Chaney presiding over affairs as monochrome living wallpaper.

The first port of call for many guests was the dedicated absinthe bar, provided by the leading international brand La Fee http://www.lafeeabsinthe.com/ In addition to a traditional absinthe fountain, La Fee also provided two experts to demonstrate the authentic fashion for enjoying the world’s most notoriously decadent refreshment. Affairs were given an Alchemy spin with a glass-topped coffin bar, complete with skeleton, its hollow sockets staring at the absintheurs as their emerald elixir was expertly blended. La Fee’s managing director George Rowley’s not only responsible for providing absinthe for our event, but also reintroducing it to Europe in 1998 after nearly a century in legal limbo. So we were very pleased that George decided to pay us the compliment of a visit on Thursday, and in the genial atmosphere discussed the finer points of designing absinthe accessories with Alchemy designer and chairman, Geoff Kayson, with an eye to future collaborations.

Suitably strange snacks came courtesy of Edible Unique http://www.edibleunique.com/index.html , Dorset-based specialists in curious cuisine. A selection of edible scorpions, grubs, and bugs were arrayed upon a stand specially-created for the evening, and culinary sceptics were confounded when the majority of the guests yielded to curiosity, and the display was almost picked clean of tasty invertebrates. One young lady had been a vegetarian for 15 years before surrendering to the temptation of a Mexican-spiced cricket! The more conventional snacks also proved very popular, as did the complimentary pink champagne supplied by the studio, adding to an atmosphere of classy conviviality for our diverse company of guests.

The soiree was designed to reflect the diversity of design achieved by Alchemy over the past three decades – from electric guitars to neo-Victorian chokers – and we had a guest list every bit as distinguished and diverse. Noted representatives of the rock world rubbed shoulders with figures from the film and art spheres. Dani, singer with Cradle of Filth and his charming wife Toni attended, as did KatieJane Garside and Crispin Gray of Queen Adreena and Daisy Chainsaw fame. Alchemy’s co-founder, designer and master sculptor, Trevor Phillipson made a rare public appearance while art legend Chris Achilleos compared notes with Alchemy’s head illustrator, Stuart Dilley, and artists and crew from Salvation Films, Fabpress, and Nucleus Films added to the varied media presence. Press attendees ranged from representatives of the rock media, such as Rockworld TV and Alternative magazine, to correspondents from leftfield fashion and culture titles such as Intersection and Nude.

When we finally reluctantly called a halt to proceedings at 11, the Horse Hospital was abuzz with happy guests (and quite a few hangovers on the horizon!). Business cards had been exchanged, press coverage promised, deals discussed, and future design commissions considered. Most importantly, Alchemy’s 30 year legacy had been celebrated in suitably high style, making new friends and reacquainting ourselves with old ones in an atmosphere that paid tribute to Alchemy’s inimitable spirit. To those that attended and made it such a special night, a hearty ‘thank you’ from everyone here at Alchemy. Those who couldn’t make it for any reason needn’t despair. Following the unprecedented success of the evening’s affair, Alchemy Chairman Geoff is already discussing the possibility of a sequel to the event in due time, so there won’t be another 30 years to wait until the next showcase and soiree. See you there!

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