The Irish Times - "Jeweller to all the stars" by Esther McCarthy

In "Jeweller to all the stars" article for The Times Esther McCarthy writes: "He's barely known in his homeland - yet Madonna can't get enough of him and the supermodels absolutely adore him.

Jewellery designer Slim Barrett is unknown outside style circles here. But he's fast becoming one of the hottest properties in London's fickle fashion world. [...]

Madonna owns some of Slim's tiaras, the trademark pieces that he's widely credited with bringing back into fashion. The Queen of Pop has even worn one in a music video for one of her hit singles.

His celebrity client list - the details of which he loyally keeps under wraps - is a who's who of fame. The late Diana, Princess of Wales, was on the first to discover his talents. [...]"

'Guardian Weekend - "Metal guru" by Susannah Frankel

In "Metal guru" article for Guardian Weekend Susannah Frankel writes: "Lagerfeld and Galliano are familiar names, yet without Slim Barrett's jewellery their work would be incomplete.  Slim Barrett is probably the only jewellery designer on the planet so unashamedly romantic as to package each of his designs with its very own little billet-doux. This, though, is perhaps no more than you'd expect from the man best known for putting hip best into tiara (which, it goes without saying, is no mean feat) and even, at a particularly winsome moment of his career, the fairy wand.

In fashion world, such sweet frippery is, of course, wildly in demand. Barrett has designed for everyone from Bruce Oldfield to the late and great John Flett, and from Katherine Hamnett to Eighties fashion star Claude Montana. He is currently the catwalk jeweller of choice for Ungaro and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel and, most famously, John Galliano, with whom he has collaborated for more than ten years. If a fashionable whim dictates a sterling silver feather, burnished copper rose, jewel-encrusted "wonder-band", gleaming gold breast-plate or even precious-metal mesh dress, suffice to say, Barrett is the man for the job. Put crudely, Slim Barrett is to jewellery what Stephen Jones or Philip Tracy are to hats."

"Metal guru" Three cut heart coronet

The model is wearing Three cut heart fairy coronet from Dreams, Mythology or Madness collection and Celtic Nouveau swirl bangle, both made in 18kt gold plated sterling silver

"Metal guru" Feather

The model on the top shot is wearing Sterling silver Feather hair pins from Feather collection originally made for John Galliano catwalk project. The model below wears 'Coiled spring' - 18kt gold plated sterling silver hair coil and bauble hair clips, both Slim Barrett for John Galliano, as well as 18kt gold plated sterling silver beaded slave bangle

Elle - "Ore Inspired" by Emma Bernhardt

"Whether welded, cast, riverted or sculptured, metal is still the lethal material," says Emma Bernhardt in her "Ore Inspired" editorial article for Elle magazine.[...] "Slim Barrett quit his tiny village in Ireland to come to London in 1981. Using his own jewellery making techniques, he makes - 'not designs' - mad mythological and surreal shapes. 'My last collection was based on a poem I wrote.' Hearts and cherubs collide with misplaced, Picasso-like facial features: 'Everything I do is an experiment,' he says.

Barrett is a sculptor at heart. Mixing copper, brass and silver, he creates mottled effects on witty clocks and whimsical figures. 'I often crack up laughing when I've finished something.' [...]"

"Ore Inspired" (continued)

This page shows more of Slim's candleabra and Ethnic punk pieces

Financial Times 'How to spend it' magazine -"Houses of spirits"

This editorial story features Legend Thunderbolt pendant which is part of Slim's Legend fine jewellery collection and is made of white gold and set with diamonds and pink sapphire. The article reads: "? One of the most appealing aspects of talismans and chams is their intensely personal nature.[...]

And Irish born jeweller Slim Barrett dipped into the mysticism of his Celtic background, but finally chose the Tao, ancient symbol of life, and the thunderbolt as motifs for his Legend collection.

"When I started studying symbols, I noticed many common, ancient, archetypal motifs cropped up all around the world at the same time - in China, Norway, South Africa," Barrett explains. "The thunderbold was one of these." Wearing a represantation of such a awe-inspiring natural phenomenon was once a way of propitiating the gods. His jewels, in white, yellow gold or platinum, are made to order, so each is personalised and tells and individual story. "The relationship between jewel and wearer gives it an extra magic and meaning," he says. [...]"

Accent magazine - "London style - Who wears the crown?" by Kasha Harmer

In her "Who wears the crown?" article for Accent magazine Kasha Harmer writes: "What do Queen Elizabeth II, Elton John, Courtney Love and Miuccia Prada all have in common? The answer - their choice of hair jewelry, the crown or tiara.

Traditionally reserved for right royal occasions, proms, beauty pageants and weddings, the tiara has shaken off its stiflingly formal image to become the whimsical fashion must-have for all trend spotters and modern princesses. Could it be that we are so disillusioned by our monarchy that we all now want to claim the crown of our own? Retailers take note!

Irish born designer Slim Barrett has been championed as the innovator responsible for breathing new life into old hat. He has been creating his beautifully crafted 'modern heirlooms' for a little over a decade, and believes that it is 'the association with fantasy, magic and romance' that lends them their charm. His signature diadems, with their ethereal spikes and curves, have attracted the attention of leading fashion names, from Karl Lagerfeld and Emanuel Ungaro, to Katherine Hamnett and John Galliano. Even museums are snapping them up for their collections. [...]"

Accent magazine (continued)

In her "Who wears the crown?" article for Accent magazine Kasha Harmer writes: "What do Queen Elizabeth II, Elton John, Courtney Love and Miuccia Prada all have in common? The answer - their choice of hair jewelry, the crown or tiara.

Traditionally reserved for right royal occasions, proms, beauty pageants and weddings, the tiara has shaken off its stiflingly formal image to become the whimsical fashion must-have for all trend spotters and modern princesses. Could it be that we are so disillusioned by our monarchy that we all now want to claim the crown of our own? Retailers take note!

Irish born designer Slim Barrett has been championed as the innovator responsible for breathing new life into old hat. He has been creating his beautifully crafted 'modern heirlooms' for a little over a decade, and believes that it is 'the association with fantasy, magic and romance' that lends them their charm. His signature diadems, with their ethereal spikes and curves, have attracted the attention of leading fashion names, from Karl Lagerfeld and Emanuel Ungaro, to Katherine Hamnett and John Galliano. Even museums are snapping them up for their collections. [...]"

The Daily Telegraph - "British jewel designer is cut above the rest" by Hilary Alexander

In "British jewel designer is cut above the rest" article for The Daily Telegraph Hilary Alexander writes: "The jewellery designer Slim Barrett is the only British winner in the Year 2000 Diamonds - International Award.

Barrett's prize-winning design was "Cascade", a chainmail-necklace of 336 diamonds that can fold up into a palm of one hand, valued at £500,000. He is one of 29 winners chosen from 3,000 entries submitted by designers in 44 countries.

[...] Barrett, 39, specialises in modern tiaras, crowns and coronets. One of his first customers was Diana, Princes of Wales, but he has also designed pieces for such popstars as Madonna, Cher, Janet Jackson and Celine Dion.

Barrett designed and made the wedding tiara and brooch worn by Ffion Hague and the elaborate crown encrusted with 321 diamonds worn by Victoria Beckham at her wedding. The Posh tiara went on sale this week for £120,000. [...]"

Harper's Bazaar - "Slim Barrett - His sensational designs"

In Slim Barrett - His sensational designs article for Harper's Bazaar  writes: "One should not miss the diamond tiara worn by Victoria on her big day. The tiara was created by Slim Barrett, one of the D-IA winners.

Slim majored in sculpture in college and is sensitive to contour. This helps develop hjs career in diamond jewellery designs. The move from Ireland to London made him experience the exchange of cultures in different places. With the new venture, he worked with various materials like rocks, yellow gold and diamonds.

His winning piece was inspired by a Japanese drawing of Ukiyo-e in his workshop. It presents a quiet, harmony mood together with dazzling glamour, which is the spirit of his designs. For the manufacture of the piece, Slim had to count on the professional craftsmen.

Born in Ireland, Slim moved to London in 1982. Sculpture studies background made his jewellery collection appeal to many fashion people. He was invited to design jewellery for Chanel, Ungaro, Versace, Montana, Karl Lagerfield and John Galliano. One of his tiaras produced in 1997 was greatly appreciated by the Queen and exhibited as one of the hundred show pieces in Wartski exhibition. Slim is regarded as the person to bring tiara to the modern world"

Vogue magazine 'Spy' section - "House of Barrett" by Mark Holgate

In "House of Barrett" article for Vogue magazine 'Spy' section Mark Holgate writes: "Slim Barrett is busy. He's simultaneously taking orders for his latest collection (feathers conjured into silver hairpins, necklaces and cuffs); talking to Karl Lagerfeld about a future collaboration; and disuading his two-year-old son Lincoln from dismantling a breastplate. Barrett pauses to contemplate his success: "Contemporary jewellery design is all about attitude. You can't keep delving into the past to look for inspiration."

These days Barrett's anti-nostalgic attitude is in demand. In addition to Lagerfeld for whom he has created this season's filigree fine silver dresses ("my team and I worked for six days and nights. I had to take Lincoln to Paris with me - Karl sent down an antique chaise longue for him to sleep on"), he's also collaborated for some time with John Galliano, most recently creating mirrored headdresses to compliment the designer's summer biker leathers. [...]"

The article features clockwise: 1 - Slim Barrett, 2 - his studio, 3 - Feather hair pin originally created for John Galliano made from 'antiqued' oxydised sterling silver, 4 - Nadja Auermann adorned in Regal tiara and Chainmail head cap and necklace, 5 - Pawn crown from Chess collection with large Couture pieneta on the back, 6 - Sunray hair comb in sterling silver, 7 - Chainmail torso piece made in bronze, 8 - headdress for John Galliano spring/summer '97, 9 - knitted precious-metal mesh dresses for Karl Lagerfeld autumn/winter '97

Irish Independent - "A Cut Above" by Brenda O'Hanlon

Brenda O'Hanlon writes for Irish Independent: "The lad they callled 'Slim' from Athenry progressed from his art classes in Galway City to being the toast of the glitterati on both sides of the Atlantic. Now holder of the coveted Diamonds International Awards, his clients include Madonna and Cher [...]

It all began the day the County Galway artist and his New Zealand born actress wife Jules were sitting in a cafe in Camden, North London. She was wearing a maquette of one of his sculpture pieces around her neck - strips of glass tubing threaded with a black leather thong. As he tells it, "The cafe owner, the extravagant Argentinian woman, came over and said 'that's fabulous jewellery, where did you get it?' Jules replied 'he made it.' With that, the woman said 'hang on, I have to introduce you to a very important person.' She went to her office, returned and said, 'ring this man. He can give you ten minutes of his time. Take your work and show it to him.'"

The VIP turned out to be the couturier Jan Van Velden, who at the time was designing for Princess Diana. He thought the Pyrex jewellery was "inspirational" and he and the Princess bought a number of pieces. Van Velden was so enthusiastic about his discovery he rang the designer Bruce Oldfield. When Oldfield saw the work, his reaction was "absolutely fabulous. Great new inventive stuff." He too bought a number of pieces. Orders from Harrods, Harvey Nichols and some high-price Knightsbridge boutiques followed in a few weeks. [...]"

"A Cut Above" East of Paris Fleur de Lys diamond tiara

The images on this page feature clockwise: Halle Berry wearing East of Paris Chandelier earrings made in 18kt gold set with diamonds, Feather choker, bangle and earrings, all made in 18kt yellow gold set with diamonds, Chainmail shoulder lace jewellery, and famous East of Paris Fleur de Lys gold and diamond tiara

"A Cut Above" Chainmail lace shoulder

The model is wearing Chainmail lace shoulder jewellery for which Slim Barrett was awared Martini Cosmopolitan Style Award in 1987

International Herald Tribune on silver knitted mesh dresses for Karl Lagerfeld

In 1997 Karl Lagerfeld asked Slim to create a silver lace fabric to be used in gowns for the finale of his catwalk show. The next challenge was manufacturing. Handknitting was too time consuming, both weaving machines and knitting machines snaped the silver thread. So Slim found the way to create silver mesh using the same process used for making stockings.

After Karl Lagerfeld  Autum/Winter '97 show in the Louvre pyramid in Paris, the project was featured by the international press around the world including such publications as International Herald Tribune (right)

The Sunday Telegraph magazine - "Rich pickings" by Helen Birch

In "Rich pickings" article for The Sunday Telegraph magazine Helen Birch writes: "Jewellery he [Slim] says, 'is timeless and permanent. It's a three dimentional thing, like sculpture. Choosing a piece is entirely different to buying a piece of clothing. You don't buy jewellery to be trendy, or just because it's been in Vogue magazine this month; you hold on to it, you keep it for love. Even when I'm designing for a couture show, I'm thinking, 'Will this look nice on a masterpiece?'.

The Victoria and Albert Museum and the Ulster Museum seem to think they would. Each has bought a tiara for its collection, [...]"

This editorial is photographed by Alex Cayley and styled by Kim Hunt

"Rich pickings" Celtic nouveau Princess solitaire tiara

The model wears Celtic Nouveau Princess solitaire tiara made in 18kt yellow gold, set with solitaire diamond

"Rich pickings" Enamel rings

This page features Slim's Amethyst set rings made in sterling silver which are now part of his Celebration collection

"All that glisters certainly is gold for Slim" by Ann Healy

In "All that glisters certainly is gold for Slim" article for XXXX Ann Healy writes: "It's a long way from the fields of Athenry to the glittering chambers of the Musee du Louvre in Paris, but for Athenry-born Brendan 'Slim' Barrett, the road to success has been littered with accolades for the timeless beauty of the exclusive jewellery he creates. [...]

Of course, Slim is no stranger to the rich and famous. The late Princess Diana was a regular customer of his, with celebrities like Cher, Mick Jagger, Janet Jackson and Madonna are also household names, and are his customers. [...]

Now another tiara he has created looks set to get him into the Guinness Book of Records, for being the most expensive non-commissioned piece of jewellery ever made - valued at £250,000. [...]

In the mid-1980's he received a number of prestigious fashion awards for his jewellery, including the Martini Award and was nominated for the Best Accessory Award. A fashion spread in 'Cosmopolitan' magazine followed, which listed him as one of the six best designers on the scene. [...]"

Hong Kong magazine - "Diamond Power"

After in 2000 Slim Barrett has been awarded De Beers Diamonds International Award for his Chainmail Cascade necklace, Hong Kong magazine wrote under the headline: Diamond Power - The rise of ethnical impact on DJ: "The UK winning piece - The diamond necklace of UK winner Slim Barrett was worn by a curvy model. The 93-carat diamond necklace swang and twinkled with the steps of the model.

Slim Barrett, a well-known tiara designer, is no stranger to awards. One of his diamond tiaras designed in 1997 was greatly admired by the Queen. He entered the Guinness world record for designing the most expensive diamond tiara this year.

All the brides dream of becoming a princess on the big day. The diamond tiara worn by Spice Girls member Victoria on her big day was designed by Slim, worth of HK$1million"

JCK's Luxury International - "An English Renaissance" by Hedda Schupak

"In the part one of "An English Renaissance", JCK's Luxury International explored the contemporary jewelry movemnt in England and visited three leading designers. In part two Luxury editor Hedda Schupak calls on three more. She writes about Slim Barrett: "Upon first impression, Slim Barrett doesn't look like someone you'd expect to be designing jeweled tiaras. Barrett looks more like a rock stinger than a fine jeweler - [...] - but he's the designer wholm many credit with bringing crowns and tiaras back into modern use. [...]"

The Sunday Times Style magazine- "Crown Prince" by Harriet Quick

In "Crown Prince" article for The Sunday Times Harriet Quick writes: "Slim Barrett is the jeweller responsible for Posh's £120,000 wedding coronet [?] Designed by the king of tiaras, Slim Barrett, it transformed 25-years-old Adams from pop princess to fairy-tale queen for the day. [?] What Barrett and his business partner and wife Jules de Bairead were even more surprised about was Adam's taste. She might be known for diamonds, but her style is Gucci sleek and very pared-down. Barrett's aesthetics, meanwhile, is wildly romantic, full of fairy-tale glamour and lavish decorative techniques: influences that he puts down to his Irish background and fine-art training.

"I always have this cauldron of ideas bubbling away," says the 37-years-old designer. " I could not say it was one thing - there's always a bit of medieval, a bit of Bauhaus and modern influences thrown in."[..]"

This page features East of Paris 18 carat gold and diamond Regal fairy crown designed for Victoria Adams for her wedding to David Beckham.

Prestige magazine - "Designs on London"

In "Designs on London" article for Prestige magazine writes: "[?] He has created Heraldic designs from keys and a surrealistic piece, The Face, which could be broken into component pieces of jewellery - featured in the Surrealism in fashion exhibition in Victoria and Albert Museum in 1988. Last year there were a further 12 collections based on upon another poem, "The Quest For S" and his East of Paris collection , which deep blue stones inspired by the Middle East and the French couture collections. The metals he uses are brass, copper and silver, and precious materials to commission [...]. Slim likes to experiment widely and his gallery also displays his prodigious sculptural work and a variety of objects including candleabras, clocks and looking-glasses. It is almost inconceivable that this amount of work could have been made by just one person.[...]

Slim Barrett is certainly extraordinary and refreshingly full of artistic energy in a world which is, after all, an industry. His work is exotic but it is not always extreme. It is certainly very wearable and comfortable. There are many things you might like to give to an aged friend or a teenager, but mostly you want to keep everything for yourself."

Woman's Way - "I designed Posh's Tiara" by Erin McCafferty

In Ireland's top woman's weekly called Woman's Way Erin writes: "To A-list celebrities, this man is a god! Why? Because Slim Barrett knows how to make them look classy, beautiful and individual all at once. And let's face it, these are qualities those who crave the limelight covet and few in modern society manage to pull them off.[...]"

This page features East of Paris 18 carat gold and diamond Regal fairy crown designed for Victoria Adams for her wedding to David Beckham.

Daily news - "Vivienne Westwood and Slim Barrett" by Valerie Chow

In "Vivienne Westwood and Slim Barrett" article for Daily news Valerie Chow writes: "Born in Ireland, Slim moved to London in 1982. Sculpture studies background made his jewellery collection appeal to many fashion people. He was invited to design jewellery for Chanel, Ungaro, Versace, Montana, Karl Lagerfield and John Galliano. One of his tiaras produced in 1997 was greatly appreciated by the Queen and exhibited as one of the hundred show pieces in Wartski exhibition. Slim is regarded as the person to bring tiara to the modern world"

Image - "The crown king" by Deidre McQuillan

In "The crown king" article for Image Deidre McQuillan  writes: "He's been called the king of coronets but this year the crowning achievements for Irish jewellery designer Slim Barrett was winning De Beer's international award for diamond jewellery. "It's like getting Oskar," he says, "This award has opened massive doors - it places you on another platform. You have a backing from De Beers and a lot of respect from the industry." Not only the only UK winner, he was the first Irishman ever to get the award. [...]

Now 40 with a very successful career to date, Slim Barrett has a celebrity client list which includes Madonna, Naomi Campbell, Janet Jackson, Mick Jagger, Cher and the late Princess Diana."

The page features a picture of Slim, his East of Paris Fleur de Lys diamond and gold tiara, and a picture of a model wearing his award winning Chainmail Cascade necklace as well as Sophie Marceau wearing his pendant necklace

Hong Kong magazine - "Diamond - A Millenium star"

In "Diamond - A Millenium star" coverage of fashion gala in the Pyramide de Louvre which was finale to the first French haute couture collections of the 21st century, Slim Barrett was mentioned as one of the ceremony participants and the winner of 2000 De Beers Diamond - International Award for his Cascade necklace of Chainmail collection

Radio Times - "The bride of the year"

"The bride of the year" 1996 of Radio Times was wearing Slim Barrett's tiara and earrings. This is how it is described: "Accessories. John Rocha suggested Slim Barrett for the jewellery. Originally I didn't want anything on my head - certainly not a veil - but when you try on one of his tiaras they feel so brilliant that I changed my mind. I am wearing the small earrings to complement the tiara, which Slim designed out of beaten silver. [...]"

Aer Lingus flight magazine

Frankfurter Allgemeine - "In London"

In it's "In London" story Frankfurter Allgemeine featured Slim's surreal Bodyarmour (worn by Slim himself) as well as his unique interior pieces, candleabra and candlesticks

Frankfurter Allgemeine - Candlestick

Fabric -"Instant icon"

On the Instant Icon page fo 2001 Fabric magazine Slim Barrett's Celtic nouveau Princess solitaire tiara was featured as a "guardian angel for a day - try to save Becks from Posh and Madge from her ego"

Express magazine - "A head for Posh design"

In "A head for Posh design" article for Express magazine Andrea Watson writes: "To understand the work of jeweller Slim Barrett, you'd probably have to visit the west coast of Ireland even though he has made his home and career over here. There is more than a hint of the land of castles, fairies and Celtic legend in Slim's fanciful crowns and coronets; his crystals and drops strung like drops of dew on cobweb chains, his silver and enamel rings and charms.

[...] Having established himself with the top fashion houses, he was asked to create a headdress for Victoria Adams's wedding to David Beckham and came up with a tiara to fit in with her spoof royalty theme. That might have been that but the idea caught on.

"My idea got picked up by fashion editors and crossed into the bridal market," he says. Now tiaras are a mainstream of bridal wear and of Barrett's business. [...]"

"Designs on Barrett"

"Designs on Barrett" article says: "[...] He arrived in London in 1982 with his partner Jules, now his wife, a New Zealand actress he had met in Galway, and intially mounted a number of small exhibitions of sculpture. Jules introduced Barrett to the fashion designer Jan Van Velden who commissioned jewellery for his next catwalk show and showed the pieces to the Princess of Wales. [...]"