Gemstones Take the Runway
How Fashion Houses Are Channeling Earth’s Natural Energy
In the world of high fashion, gemstones are taking center stage once again, not only as embellishments, but as powerful design statements. From Coperni’s quartz handbags to Prada’s vivid gemstone jewelry, the latest runways are reminding us that minerals are more than just materials, they’re carriers of emotion, heritage, and meaning.
Photo Credit: Coperni
Coperni’s Mystic Bags
At the Coperni Spring/Summer 2026 show, the brand known for its futuristic aesthetic surprised audiences with something deeply ancient: handbags carved from gemstones.
Instead of glass or resin, the iconic 'Swipe' bags were sculpted entirely from solid gemstones, including rose quartz, tiger’s eye and tourmaline. Each piece was carved from massive blocks of natural stone, then polished to perfection, turning the familiar futuristic silhouette into an object of pure mineral beauty.
The result? A collection that blurred the line between fashion, sculpture, and technology, an idea very much aligned with Coperni’s exploration of natural meets digital.
For centuries, civilizations have believed in the energetic power of gemstones. By literally sculpting these energies into wearable art, Coperni bridged two worlds: the spiritual and the sartorial.
Photo Credit: Prada
Prada’s “Couleur Vivante”
Meanwhile, Prada’s fine jewelry line “Couleur Vivante” is a feast of color and craftsmanship. The Italian house paired geometric settings with radiant gemstones such as amethyst, aquamarine, citrine, peridot, and morganite, creating unexpected color contrasts that feel at once modern and timeless. Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons introduced bold jewelry pieces that appeared to merge modern architecture with the organic irregularity of natural minerals. The effect was both futuristic and primal, a dialogue between raw matter and refined craftsmanship.
Each piece celebrates imperfection and individuality, reflecting the natural beauty of stones formed over millions of years beneath the Earth’s surface. Prada’s approach is both poetic and architectural, turning minerals into expressions of joy, confidence, and personality.
Photo Credit: Schiaparelli
Schiaparelli’s Salt Stone Creations
At the Schiaparelli Spring/Summer 2026 show, creative director Daniel Roseberry showed his 'Dancer in the Night' collection. He continues to turn fashion into surreal art and this time, light itself became part of the story. Roseberry introduced accessories sculpted from translucent salt stones that literally light up from within.
Each piece, part jewel, part sculpture, glowed softly as models walked the runway, casting ethereal reflections reminiscent of candlelight through crystal.
Roseberry’s choice of salt is both symbolic and poetic. Salt is a preservative, a purifier, and a mineral born from evaporation, an element of transformation. By giving it light, Schiaparelli redefined what mineral luxury can mean in the modern age: not static beauty, but living energy. This visionary approach resonates with the current fascination in fashion for the energy of natural materials. It reflects a growing desire to reconnect with the Earth, even in the most avant-garde spaces.
In Every Stone, a Story
Among the world’s jades, few are as storied as Guatemalan jadeite, the same stone treasured by the ancient Maya. At Jade Maya, we continue this legacy crafting modern jewelry that celebrates jade’s spiritual roots while embracing contemporary design. Much like Coperni’s quartz bags or Prada’s gemstone creations, our pieces unite nature’s artistry with human imagination.
Whether it’s rose quartz, amethyst, or jade, the current movement in fashion reminds us of something ancient yet ever-relevant: stones have souls. They connect us to the Earth, to history, and to ourselves.
From Paris to Antigua, from the Coperni runway to the Guatemalan highlands, gemstones are speaking again, not just as symbols of luxury, but as reminders of beauty born from the Earth’s own artistry.
