Vika Tonu x Matter (Romania)
VIKA TONU X MATTER
Designer biography:
Victoria Tonu, born in Chisinau, Moldova, is a jewellery designer based between Spain and Romania. She graduated from the Interdisciplinary Art and Design Faculty in Huddersfield, UK, and founded her brand, VIKA TONU. Victoria furthered her studies at ALCHIMIA Contemporary Jewellery School in Florence, Italy, and is a certified gemologist from the Romanian Gemological Centre. VIKA TONU jewellery has featured in Romanian Design Week, Vienna Design Week, and London Fashion Week and Milano Design Week, among others. The brand is included in the HOMO FABER GUIDE curated by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, Switzerland.
Collection concept:
"From Waste to Jewel" is a project by jewelry designer VIKA TONU and Portuguese architecture studio MATTER. By transforming organic waste from agro-industrial production (coffee, chocolate, wine, and beer), MATTER, winner of the Surface of the Year 2024 award, creates new surfaces merging design, sustainability, and circular economy principles. Committed to environmental consciousness and design excellence, the VIKA TONU x MATTER collaboration introduces a unique collection blending organic materials with precious metals, setting new standards for sustainable and creative jewelry. The project has won the WORTH Partnership Programme and received support from the European Commission for its development. Prototypes are on display, with the final collection in development.
Vika Tonu, ring, prototype, gold plated brass, cacao chaff
10. Vika Tonu x Matter, pendants, brass, coffee chaff
Vika Tonu x Matter, ring, pendant, brass, coffee chaff
9. Vika Tonu x Matter, pendants, brass, cacao husks