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Worn Out Wednesday – Justin Giunta

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My name is Justin Giunta. I am an artist and designer living in New York.  

I am known for my fashion jewelry brand, Subversive Jewelry, but I started as and have maintained the profession of Artist. 

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Studying studio art, I earned my BFA from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and moved directly to New York to get started being an artist. 

Immediately upon arrival in New York, I started making industrial and fashion design products to sell in Manhattan boutiques.  I would make t-shirts, chandeliers, and eventually jewelry, and carry my wares to boutiques to sell.  I always had enough positive response to chart my creative career according to what I wanted to make, and then finding the customers to purchase them.

Within a few short years Subversive was being styled in many editorials for major US and international publications.   Subversive Jewelry received several industry awards and has been recognized for its influence on the world of contemporary fashion jewelry.  As my unique aesthetic of deconstructed chic started to trend I started collaborating with ready to wear designers to create unique jewelry for their collections.  My first collaboration was with New York milliner Rod Keenan New York; we put rediscovered  charms and vintage finery onto wool fedoras for men to give each hat the feeling of a cabinet of curiosities.  I helped Alexander Wang bedazzle some cashmere when he was starting out as simply a knit collection, then onto Tory Burch, Target, DKNY, J. Mendel, and Calvin Klein to name a few others.  

I continue to create Subversive Jewelry and collaborate with other designers.  Soon I will be launching a lighting collection with Avrett Designs based in Charleston South Carolina, as well as a small high-end jewelry collection for Subversive Jewelry, which will consist of 18k gold and precious stones for both men and women.  

When I am not designing jewelry I still maintain my studio art practices.  Painting and drawing are my passion. I have yet to have my work shown in New York galleries, but I exercise my creativity daily, and there is always the hope for tomorrow. 

Below Mr. Giunta tells us about his personal style.

Related Article:

Rod Keenan on How to Wear a Hat.

Jeans: Levis 511 in Black

Shirts: I have my shirts custom made by Gabriella Carlson Studio in New York and Jussara Lee also in New York.

Pants: Rick Owens, Martin Margiela, Prada

Suits: Dior, Dries Van Noten

Shoes: Guidi Boots all the time!

Accessories: Subversive Jewelry Rod Keenan Hats

Outerwear: YSL for formal occasions, Rick Owens trench for rain outings, Columbia Down Puffer for standing out in the cold, and Y-3 when wind breaking.

Favorite Cologne: Comme de Garcon Incense

Your favorite App: Flipagram, allows me to make slideshows as a single social media post. 

Favorite piece of technology:  3d Printers that print in metal!

Next tech purchase:  3D modeling software: Z-Brush

Cator Sparks
Cator Sparks
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…
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