#CheezeLooker: First, could you describe a little about what you do as the Founder, CEO and Designer of MCL Design?
Matthew: I founded the company in 1998 and set about creating jewelry that was unique and sculptural, with precious and semi-precious gemstones. As the only designer of MCL Design, it’s up to me to find new ways to create jewelry and maintain my aesthetic, which is the DNA of my brand. This process includes researching and testing new materials, and combinations of products, which are not normally used on jewelry, to see if I can create something new, innovative and exciting. All the while, I maintain my steadfast belief in sustainability and preserving traditional craftsmanship. Handcrafting, in small batches, gives my jewelry its unique appeal, easily distinguishable from mass production. I spend a lot of time sourcing ethically produced raw materials and recycle wherever possible.
As CEO, it is also my job, to constantly find sources of revenue, to sustain my company and its staff, with fair wages. This means I have to seek out opportunities for growth of my business. Currently, I am working on bespoke projects for television, which are in the early stages still, but I have strong faith this will be a success.
#CheezeLooker: What are you working on at the moment?
Matthew: Right now, one of my projects involves creating jewelry for 21 actors, which will be worn on set and throughout several TV series. My jewelry has been worn on many TV shows, so I’m familiar with working with production companies and celebrities. My designs were worn on the famous series Gossip Girl, and countless celebrities are adorned with MCL Design on red carpets and magazine covers worldwide each year.
I am also working on a line of home related products and lights, as part of my MCL Home brand, which will hopefully debut in the next several months. This, of course, is in tandem with continuing to produce new jewelry for my customers, high-end department stores and custom clientele.
#CheezeLooker: Since you have been in this business for a long time, what is your brand character in this era?
Matthew: Truthfully, I find the industry a bit manic. We have gone through a period where the consumer can research and find products from every corner of the globe, which has been great, to allow people previously without a voice access to the market and be able to sell to clients they would have only dreamed of just 20 years ago.
However, what it has also done is made the consumer more jaded and faster to move through products and brands, for the ever-elusive new piece they hope to discover. This has created an issue with customer loyalty, as they tend to spend insufficient time with new brands, to grow with them, and really learn the essence of emerging talent. So new brands can be hot for a minute and then sadly not, but not for a lack of talent. We have worked long and hard at developing our brand, establishing a benchmark and sustaining it, even though challenging times of cover and global economic crises. We are recognized for quality, creativity, sustainability and durability, as well as caring about our customers in the long-term.
#CheezeLooker: How do you stay motivated at work?
Matthew: The adage 'Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life' applies to me. I don’t consider design ‘work’. I enjoy it and it brings me a lot of happiness. The back office is another matter entirely! Where design is concerned though, motivation has never been lacking. As for the grind of accounting and management, I try to maintain the attitude that everything will have a solution, and there will be hard days and good days, but also try to surround myself with good people.
#CheezeLooker: What else inspires your jewelry designs?
Matthew: Travel and different cultures have always had an influence on me, as well as decorative arts and all of the things people use to express themselves in their daily lives. There is no shortage of inspiration for me - it’s all around, all the time, you simply have to be mindful.
#CheezeLooker: What kind of mindset do you have in your work?
Matthew: Never stop designing and never give up. If it didn’t work one way, learn from that, and try another way. Things may only seem impossible, until they’re not.
#CheezeLooker: The story of the celebrity customers that impressed you very much!?
Matthew: I am very happy when celebrities wear my jewelry! It’s a source of pride, when someone famous, who has all the means and can wear any brand they please, has chosen to wear my designs, as a way to express their individuality, it’s a blessing. Most celebrities call to borrow my pieces, as they are constantly expected to wear something new at every turn. However, I experience just as much joy at seeing any person wearing my designs! I’m honored they actually chose to spend their hard-earned money on my designs.
#CheezeLooker: So, Bangkok has been your second home, for more than 25 years, please tell us something you love and hate about this town. lol
Matthew: I absolutely love the energy of this city, in all its vibrancy. The blend of new and old, east and west - ancient customs meeting modern traditions head on! There is always a source of inspiration and warm smiles everywhere you look. What I’m not a fan of…the pollution!
#CheezeLooker: Random, but we want to know your activities and things to do when you have free time…
Matthew: I love being around people and hate being alone - for me it’s so much easier to be inspired this way. You will find me socializing, when I am not busy creating. I do try to keep a routine. Wake up around 6-6.15am, call the USA to touch base, go to gym at 7am, eat breakfast around 8.15-8.30am, and open the office at 9am.
#CheezeLooker: Please describe your personal style and what is your signature fashion piece?
Matthew: It really depends on the day. I’d like to think I’m a bit of a chameleon. I am very easy and I go with what the day requires - the scale goes from getting my hands dirty in my studio factory workshop, to schmoozing with my celebrity clientele. I do like to shop though, so I have a closet, bursting with the things I have bought over the years, which I guess makes me simple, but eclectic, when I do dress up, while in my studio, I am in shorts and flip flops.
#CheezeLooker: What advice would you give someone who wants to succeed like you?
Matthew: Look at everything in life as if it were an opportunity to do better. If something fails or you have to start over, this isn’t the end of the world - it is just another opportunity to shine. Take it, move forward and don’t look back.
#CheezeLooker: The story behind your latest collaboration with this Thai BL Series?
Matthew: We’ve designed jewelry that is integral to the plot of the show and featured in the storyline of episodes, in a full-on, fun collaboration. The jewelry will be available for purchase, once the series is aired. More than that we’re not at liberty to divulge yet.
#CheezeLooker:What next about this project?
Matthew: We will be releasing a steady flow of behind-the-scenes footage, both video and still photography, of the stars, and other fan-based content, prior to and during the launch/airing of the series. The jewelry that fans and followers see the stars wearing, will be able for purchase for themselves.
#CheezeLooker:Please tell us about your side project: "SINGLEUSEProductions"
Matthew:SINGLEUSEProductions is an inclusive organization, I founded, dedicated to endorsing ‘Hedonism with Heart’. SINGLEUSE events are aimed at raising funds for charity, while spreading joy, making memories, promoting unity, and advocating for equality, through a movement of open minds, hearts and souls, as one. SINGLEUSE strives to boost the collective conscience, and reward its community for giving back. I am hoping to teach people that they can give back in so many ways. March 8 was the first art exhibition opening at Eat Me Restaurant, with proceeds benefiting the charity foundation SWING Thailand, and the exhibition runs until 7th May,. Moving forward, we will have one every 2 months, and will collaborate with different organisations and partner with different charities, in fun, uplifting and creative ways.
#CheezeLooker: More details about the artist and his art piece?
Matthew: Mong is a 36-year-old forensic artist from Bangkok: Mongolrak Jutanont. He’s spent the last 13 years working on hyper-real drawings, required by the Criminal Sketch Department of Bangkok’s police force. Continually seeking balance and distraction from the harsh, and yet mundane, realities of everyday life, Mong finds refuge in random thoughts of fantasy realms and parallel universes. He ventures into alien worlds, questioning whether life is or could be better elsewhere.
On his journey of exploration into finding his utopia, he takes pleasure in small random acts, which may appear meaningless and insignificant, out of context, and mirrors them in his works. Cartoonish and childlike in nature, Mong’s layering of patterns and styles contrasts starkly with some of its content, which records explicit sexual acts, intended to amuse, rather than shock.
Sex and sexuality, however, are still largely taboo subjects in contemporary Thailand, which Mong wishes he could erase, as easily as the pencil lines on a page. In his alien utopias, societal disconnects do not exist: love is love, and equality is absolute.
Through his work, and its public display, Mong aims to normalize conversation on sex and sexual equality, help evolve the dialogue, promote better sex education, and engender acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community. His message is thus: With continual dialogue, disparate entities can create acceptance, harmony and cohesion. When the larger image is balanced in this way, each of the random elements makes sense and has purpose.
#CheezeLooker:Your next plan about the charity project?
Matthew: There will be a series of events every few months, with different themes and in support of different charities, to try and spread the love and good will to those in need, under the banner of SINGLEUSEProductions, and in collaboration with various venues and organizations. SINGLEUSEProductions does not receive any form of payment, commission, or profits when hosting and organizing charity events.
#CheezeLooker:Please say something to the reader of "CheezeLooker"
Matthew:If you’d like to know more about me and my brands, style and work ethic, then please take a look at www.matthewcampbelllaurenza.com and www.mcldesign.net, or follow us on IF/FB @mcldesign
เรื่องราวจะเป็นอย่างไรต่อไป ติดตามชม "Make a Wish the Series: ภารกิจนายเทวดา" ได้ทุกวันพุธ เวลา 19.00 น. ที่ Viu
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