The Story Behind Shaun Leane
Shaun Leane started out as an apprentice goldsmith in Hatton Garden, training under master jeweller David Thomas before he'd even turned twenty. It's a classic training ground for British jewellers, all hand tools and patience, and it's part of why his pieces still get made with real attention to construction rather than just appearance. In the early nineties he met Alexander McQueen, and the two went on to collaborate for close to two decades, with Leane creating some of the most talked about pieces ever to appear on a runway, including corsetry made entirely from metal. That partnership left his jewellery with a reputation for pushing past what's expected of pretty, and it's a sensibility that carries straight through into his earrings today. Even the more wearable pieces in the collection still carry a bit of that runway drama just under the surface.