Unusual suspects

GlobalcoolO

Patrizia Iacino’s jewelry is trashy in the most sophisticated way possible. The 37-year-old Italian-born designer takes the everyday objects that most people discard and combines them with precious metals, stones and pearls to create artsy, handcrafted jewelry. Trained as an architect in Florence, Iacino came to New York in 2001 to pursue her passion for jewelry design. Her fascination with recycling led her to create eco-friendly baubles under the name GlobalcoolO: Bottle caps are cast in precious metals, contact-lens cases are merged with pearls, and milk-bottle caps are soldered to sterling-silver wire. Our favorite repurposed creation is her rubber-band ring. “Like most of my jewelry, this ring isn’t for shy people,” says Iacino. “It is happy, funny and noticeable.” The impetus for its design came while she was hanging out in the Lower East Side one night at her favorite pizza place. Her friend (and owner) Sal was cooking and mindlessly tossing the rubber bands that bind broccoli and asparagus stalks onto a nearby table.

The bright pink and deep blue colors of the rubber inspired her to intertwine the bands and eventually create this funky statement ring, now part of the SAL Collection. SAL Collection Ring, $140, at etsy.com; other pieces available at the Museum of Arts & Design, 2 Columbus Circle at 58th St (212-299-7777).

—Rachel LeWinter

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