Mirela Srša, a Masters student at the Sandberg Institute is one of the talents we've already picked out from Dutch Design Week 2009 which is currently taking over the city of Eindhoven.

We love her innovative sculptural jewellery design, fashioned from soft textile that incorporates both traditional embroidery and contemporary shape. Born in Belgrade and now studying in the Netherlands, Mirela's bold, padded cuffs and yokes and neckpieces in bright colour seem at once utterly modern, yet timeless craft heirloom stuff closely related to, and clearly inspired by her home country.

"Coming from a politically unstable region, disturbed by war, vanishing old, and increasing new countries make me wonder about new costumes and history that might be written with new values in them. In my work I use elements from my past, emphasising them in the jewellery; delicate and abstract at the same time. Embroidery is a natural part of my roots and feels like drawing to me. My jewels are large, oversized and heavy, filled with beans, wheat or rye. I learned that food needs to be cherished, food symbolises home. It feels like recreating my identity." explains Srša.

If you're in Eindoven, some of her work is now on show as part of the SI Module, 'Sandberg Institute at Klokgebouw', Hal 1. More of her work will also be presented in Gallery 'De andere kant', Zutphen until October the 24th.