Filigree is a classic design element that has recently been revived in the fashion jewelry scene, taking a prominent seat in many designers' winter and spring collections including Argento Vivo and Kendra Scott.

Gold, which was the foundation of many fall jewelry lines, has remained popular within this trend. Virtually all of the filigree designs I have seen have been made from vermeil or gold-plated brass filigree.

There are two reasons why I think we're seeing filigree return right now:

1. Filigree lends itself to the bohemian-chic look that is commonly popular in spring fashion. Designers are getting ready and making the shift from the reserved, sultry looks of fall and winter and back into the lighter designs of spring and summer.

2. One of the major trends for 2006 fashion will be a "return to innocence" of sorts, as our country experiences a sense of nostalgia for less complicated times. Filigree has a very romantic, timeless look that appeals to this collective longing.

Whatever the reason, I'm glad to see it return in popularity. I love to design romantic, timeless jewelry, and filigree absolutely fits the bill. I expect to see it combined with wood, shell and other natural materials in the spring collections of many designers.

Georgia Hadley is a jewelry designer, writer, and small business owner who lives in rural Vermont. In addition to her own business, Adorneya Jewelry (http://www.adorneya.com), she is also a founding editor of Craft Revolution (http://www.craftrevolution.com), a website dedicated to promoting mainstream awareness of independent designers and their products as desirable alternatives to big-box stores.