Carmen Busquets Curates Exclusive Online Trunk Show to Support Glasswing

MUSE is thrilled to announce an exclusive online trunk show curated by Carmen Busquets. This trunk show extends Carmen’s continued work as a Have A Heart Ambassador. Proudly, 10% of the price of each piece will be directly donated directly to Glasswing. Known for her bold and unique fashion sense, Carmen has handpicked stunning pieces, particularly highlighting Silvia Furmanovich's exquisite work. Both women share a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and the power of statement jewelry.

Silvia Furmanovich on Carmen Busquets:

Carmen wears pieces from my collections that make use of several techniques—marquetry, miniature painting, lacquer, and silk weaving. All those pieces resonate deeply with Carmen’s appreciation for craftsmanship and cultural heritage. I particularly loved seeing her in our red mushroom earrings, from our award-winning Botanical Collection. Those earrings greatly speak to Carmen's values. They exemplify a harmony between natural materials and craftsmanship, reflecting Carmen’s ethos of honoring sustainability and artisanal skills, and are aligned with her lifelong commitment to environmental consciousness.

Carmen was one of the first supporters of my work when she launched our collection at Couturelab before everybody else. It was one of the most exciting retail outposts in the world at the time. Our collaboration celebrates our shared values—craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and bold design. These elements are the cornerstone of both our works. Both Carmen and I understand that true luxury lies in the time, details, and skill behind each piece. This mutual respect for artisanal craft ensures that every creation we bring forth is a work of art, reflecting the dedication and expertise of the hands that made it. Cultural heritage is another pillar of our work. Carmen’s deep appreciation for the stories and traditions behind fashion is in sync with my own fascination for the cultural narratives embedded in jewelry. This connection allows us to create pieces that are not only beautiful but also rich with meaning and history. Our penchant for bold, unique designs further unites us. We both believe in pushing boundaries and creating pieces that are statement-makers. This boldness is reflected in my willingness to experiment with unconventional materials and innovative techniques. Ultimately, what draws us to these elements is a shared passion for storytelling through art. Whether it’s through the intricate patterns of marquetry or the vibrant hues of a gemstone, we appreciate that jewelry is a conduit to a story, evoke emotions and stand the test of time.

Carmen Busquets, a pioneering entrepreneur in the luxury fashion industry, has always advocated for sustainable and ethical fashion. As a Latina with a rich cultural background, she brings a vibrant and eclectic aesthetic to her curations. Carmen’s journey from founding the luxury e-commerce platform CoutureLab to becoming a significant investor in Net-a-Porter demonstrates her unwavering commitment to supporting innovative designers and artisans. Her style is characterized by a fearless mix of bold, unique jewelry and accessories celebrating individuality and craftsmanship.

Silvia Furmanovich, a renowned Brazilian designer, is celebrated for her intricate marquetry and innovative use of materials. Her work often incorporates elements of nature and Brazilian culture, resulting in timeless and contemporary pieces. Silvia's dedication to preserving traditional techniques while pushing the boundaries of design has earned her international acclaim. Her collections, which include colorful marquetry earrings and bracelets featuring hand-painted miniature drawings, are a testament to her artistic vision and meticulous attention to detail.

It’s no surprise that Carmen is drawn to an artist like Silvia. Both women exude an unabashed confidence in their style, celebrating their roots through their creations and choices. Carmen’s selection of Silvia’s pieces for this trunk show speaks to their mutual love for artisanal excellence and bold, unique designs.

This trunk show celebrates extraordinary jewelry and supports Glasswing, a nonprofit dedicated to education, life skills programs, economic opportunities, and mental health support across Latin America and New York.

To support Glasswing beyond the trunk show, consider volunteering or joining their supporter community, The Butterfly Effect. Visit www.glasswing.org for more information. Plus, don’t miss their 10th annual Gala in New York City on October 10th. For details, email mloyka@glasswing.org.

Your style is admired worldwide. Can you share how you define your personal fashion style?

I always say that, when it comes to style, I have an alter ego that is made up of 16 personality types because I am attracted to so many styles that are quite different from one another! However, the common thread, regardless of which look I choose on a particular day, is that I always seem to complete it with bold and unique jewelry and accessories.

What are some of your favorite pieces from this trunk show, and why do they hold a special place for you?

We have selected some incredible pieces for this trunkshow so it is hard to choose a favorite. But if I had to pick the ones that stand out for me the most, it would have to be Mark Davis’ one-of-a-kind bracelets made from vintage bakelite, gemstones, diamonds, and gold and Silvia Furmanovich’s colorful and meticulously crafted marquetry earrings and bracelets, some of which feature hand-painted miniature drawings. Both Mark and Silvia work with skilled artisans to create jewelry pieces that push traditional craftsmanship in innovative and ethically responsible directions.

How do you choose the jewelry pieces you wear for different occasions? Do you have any go-to pieces or brands?

Over the years, I have been growing a collection that includes fine jewelry pieces that hold great sentimental value, such as the gold Lalaounis necklace and bracelet, which used to belong to my mother and that she gifted to me 15 years ago, knowing how much I loved them. I also collect vintage and one-off pieces by contemporary artists, artisans, and jewelry designers whose work I admire.

I love wearing bold, one-off maximalist necklaces, symmetrical bracelets on both arms, and asymmetrical earrings, and I like to have fun by layering and mixing vintage and new pieces together.

How do you balance timeless elegance with contemporary trends in your jewelry collection?

I have never followed trends, and I do not purchase jewelry based on current trends. I may do so occasionally with some accessories to give an outfit a new look, but when it comes to jewelry, I always seek one-off and limited-edition handcrafted pieces. I have an innate desire to discover and support emerging designers, artists, and artisans. I launched the London-based boutique and e-commerce platform CoutureLab in 2006 as my creative laboratory. It was a lot of hard work, but I ran it for ten years and it allowed me to incubate my ideas whilst promoting bespoke pieces from a global network of 300 culturally diverse artists.

How does your personal background and culture influence your taste in fashion and jewelry?

As a Latina who grew up with a sociologist and anthropologist mother, my focus has always been on craftsmanship and the importance of supporting artisan communities to preserve their skills, traditions, and cultural heritage. I don’t recall any instances during my travels when I bought jewelry pieces designed and made by international Western brands, as I have always preferred supporting local craftsmen and designers.

I am sure that, had I not worked and been part of the luxury fashion community, I may not have supported the growth of our industry as I have always been against it growing in such a unsustainable way. Unfortunately, despite all of the responsible businesses that my partners and I created to help reduce the fashion industry’s excess of waste, we were unable to have a worldwide impact. Luxury fashion was not created to become the circus that it has turned into today. At the start, its focus was on supporting local craftsmanship, creativity, individuality and it was about respecting artisans’ cultural heritage and longevity of style.

What advice would you give to someone looking to develop their personal style and jewelry collection?

Style is the expression of the alter ego that we develop in order to survive in our society. It is a a highly subjective decision and my advice is to choose pieces that suit your profession and lifestyle. It is very important to dress for your role in your profession and unfortunately for some that means abiding by certain limitations. If I had my own fund and was responsible for managing other people’s money, I would probably never wear 80 percent of the clothes in my closet! I chose to work in luxury fashion because it gave me the freedom I need to express myself creatively.

I have always needed to have freedom and that doesn’t just involve freedom of thought and time, it also includes the ability to style myself however I want and need to in any particular moment. But you can only afford that freedom if you work in the creative industries, whereas the worlds of finance, science and politics for example will always limit your style!

Can you tell us about Glasswing and the mission behind the organization?

Glasswing is a fantastic nonprofit organization founded 17 years ago by Celina De Sola, a woman I deeply admire, as well as her brother Diego and husband Ken Baker. They believe that everyone, no matter what circumstances they are born into, should have the chance to flourish, and they work hard to make this a reality. They are now present in over 12 countries across Latin America and four schools in New York City to provide education and life skills programs, economic opportunities, and mental health support for children, young people and families. I am very proud of their work and the fact that they recently reached the major milestone of having impacted the lives of 3 million people.

What inspired you to get involved with Glasswing?

As a Latina I feel a commitment to transforming the futures of disadvantaged communities in Latin America by increasing access to education and opportunities so I joined Glasswing’s Board of Directors in 2018 to help fund the launch of the organisation’s first educational program in the US, aimed at integrating newly arrived migrant-youth into society.

Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives with Glasswing that you're particularly excited about?

I’m very excited that Glasswing will be deepening its work in New York so that it can cater not only to the students who have recently arrived in the city from all over the world but also to their families. Currently, the organization works with four high schools, providing programs that build skills and confidence, help with English language learning, and provide mental health support.

There also some exciting plans to expand the mental health program, SanaMente, from Central America to other countries including: Mexico, Panama, Colombia, South Africa and India. Glasswing are currently training over 100,000 frontline workers with the knowledge and skills to provide trauma-informed care to at least 9 million people.

What legacy do you hope to leave in the world of fashion and philanthropy?

I am a saleswoman and I am always looking for ways to sell a designer or a cause that I support. I wear pieces to create awareness of those whom I believe in and everything I wear has a price. Right now I am in the process of setting up the Carmen Busquets Foundation so that I can continue to support nonprofit organizations such as Glasswing International. But more on this to follow as it is still early days!

How can others get involved with Glasswing or support its mission beyond attending the trunk show?

There are many interesting ways for people to get involved, depending on how much time and resources they have available. For a start, Glasswing offers a number of volunteer opportunities in Latin America, New York, and online, which include everything from school renovations to job-preparedness workshops. They are often contacted by corporations interested in giving back, for whom Glasswing arranges volunteering events and fulfilling group projects. Anyone interested in volunteering with them can visit www.glasswing.org or email info@glasswing.org. Another way to make an impact is to join their supporter community called The Butterfly Effect website has a lot of info about this www.glasswing.org/donate.

Lastly, on October 10th, Glasswing is hosting its 10th annual Gala in New York City. It’s an incredible event with fashion pioneers, diplomats and thought leaders who come together for a great cause. This year’s honoree is a an exceptional woman and friend of mine, the model and entrepreneur, Valentina Ferrer. Anyone interested in joining the event can email mloyka@glasswing.org for more information!