Acrylic jewellery, with its bold colours, sculptural forms, and accessible appeal, has become a hallmark of contemporary adornment. Often associated with playfulness and pop aesthetics, acrylic (also known as Lucite, Perspex, or Plexiglas depending on the region and brand) has a surprisingly rich history. It intersects with industrial innovation, mid-century design, feminist craft, and today’s flourishing DIY culture.
As an art historian with a focus on craft and jewellery, I’ve watched the cultural life of acrylic unfold across generations and continents. Let’s delve into its origin, trace some key moments in its evolution, and explore how makers today continue to reinvent this fascinating material.
The Invention of Acrylic: A Modern Material Emerges
Acrylic, or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), was developed in the early 20th century as part of a wave of industrial plastics innovations. British chemists Rowland Hill and John Crawford at Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) first created a usable form in 1934, marketed under the brand name “Perspex.” Around the same time, the American company DuPont introduced a similar product under the name “Lucite,” while Röhm and Haas in Germany marketed it as “Plexiglas.”
What made acrylic so groundbreaking was its unique combination of clarity, durability, and mouldability. It could be cut, shaped, dyed, and polished like glass—but was lighter and far more resilient. These properties made it ideal not only for wartime aviation (used for aircraft windows and gun turrets during WWII), but also for peacetime innovation in homeware, interior design, and jewellery.
Acrylic Enters the Jewellery Scene: The 1930s–1950s
The first notable acrylic jewellery appeared in the 1930s and 40s, closely tied to the broader popularity of plastic as a modernist material. Early examples of Lucite jewellery were often Art Deco in style—geometric, sleek, and sometimes combined with rhinestones or embedded objects. With wartime metal rationing during the 1940s, materials like Bakelite, celluloid, and Lucite became practical alternatives, and women’s accessories adapted accordingly.
In the post-war period, acrylic jewellery became more refined and experimental. Lucite bangles, brooches, and earrings—often clear or tinted with pastel hues—were embraced for their futuristic look. Designers began embedding glitter, lace, and even miniature objects inside transparent acrylic, creating whimsical and eye-catching pieces that couldn’t be made with traditional materials.
One of the most celebrated examples from this era is the “Confetti Lucite” jewellery of the 1950s: resin pieces with suspended particles of foil, seashell, or coloured plastic chips. These were mass-produced, often unsigned, but have become collectible vintage items today.
Acrylic and Avant-Garde Design: The 1960s–1970s
By the 1960s, acrylic was embraced by modernist and avant-garde designers pushing boundaries in both art and fashion. As culture shifted toward pop art, minimalism, and space-age aesthetics, acrylic’s bright colours and modular forms found perfect expression.
Italian designer Germana Marucelli and French couturier Paco Rabanne were among the high fashion visionaries who incorporated plastics into their jewellery and garment designs. Rabanne, in particular, became famous for his use of Perspex and metal discs in his sculptural dresses and matching accessories.
In the UK, Lucie Rie, primarily known for her ceramics, and Wendy Ramshaw, a pioneering jewellery designer, experimented with geometric and wearable sculptural forms. Ramshaw’s use of acrylic—often paired with metals—challenged conventional ideas of what jewellery could be. Her iconic ring sets, displayed like miniature sculptures, were both visual art and adornment.
During this era, acrylic was not just a budget-friendly alternative to precious materials—it was a deliberate aesthetic choice aligned with youth culture, rebellion, and modern design. It embodied the spirit of Swinging London and 1970s boldness alike.
Postmodern Revival: 1980s–1990s
The 1980s saw a revival of acrylic jewellery, this time characterised by big, bold, and unapologetically flashy pieces. Costume jewellery flourished, and acrylic’s versatility made it a go-to for statement earrings, chunky necklaces, and oversized brooches.
Designers like Angela Caputi in Florence pushed the boundaries of plastic jewellery, combining bright resin forms with vintage glamour. Her theatrical designs demonstrated that acrylic could be both playful and sophisticated.
Simultaneously, acrylic became central to the DIY and street fashion movements. With the rise of punk, New Wave, and club culture, plastic accessories offered an accessible way to stand out. Acrylic earrings in lightning bolt shapes, graffiti lettering, or abstract forms were easy to customise and mass-produce—perfect for a generation that embraced bold self-expression.
By the 1990s, acrylic began to appear in more minimalist, transparent styles again, reflecting broader shifts in fashion toward clean lines and pared-back aesthetics. Brands like Marni and Issey Miyake explored translucent and layered effects in both clothing and jewellery, keeping acrylic relevant in high fashion.
Acrylic Today: The Contemporary Craft Renaissance
In the 21st century, acrylic jewellery has experienced a major resurgence, thanks in part to the rise of laser cutting, digital design, and independent makers. Etsy, Instagram, and small-batch manufacturing have created a fertile ground for a new generation of designers to experiment with this endlessly adaptable material.
Contemporary makers are using acrylic not as a stand-in for precious materials, but as a medium with its own aesthetic value. Bold colour blocking, layered shapes, mirrored surfaces, and engraved details are all possible with modern laser-cutting techniques. Acrylic is also lightweight, making it ideal for large statement pieces that are still comfortable to wear.
Many contemporary artists and designers use acrylic to make social, political, or humorous statements—its accessibility lends itself to pop culture references and wearable slogans. Others explore organic forms, matte finishes, or pair acrylic with sustainable materials like wood or recycled plastics.
Notable contemporary designers include:
- Tatty Devine (UK): Pioneers of witty, laser-cut acrylic jewellery since the late 1990s, known for their playful narrative pieces and collaborations with artists and museums.
- Kaleidoscope Accessories and similar independent brands: These smaller labels use acrylic to express individuality, nostalgia, and maximalist style, often tied to themes like cottagecore, dopamine dressing, or queer aesthetics.
- Arielle de Pinto and other boundary-pushing artists: While not exclusively working in acrylic, many contemporary jewellers incorporate PMMA elements into mixed media work that blurs the line between fashion and fine art.
Why Acrylic Endures
Acrylic continues to captivate designers and wearers because of its unmatched combination of qualities: visual impact, creative flexibility, affordability, and lightness. It has moved beyond its origins as a wartime substitute or novelty material and into the realm of serious design and artistic innovation.
Its accessibility also aligns with contemporary values—whether that’s rejecting fast fashion in favour of handmade, celebrating bold self-expression, or reimagining what jewellery can be. And as digital tools continue to democratise design, acrylic remains a vital part of jewellery’s future.
Far from being a “cheap plastic,” acrylic is a craft material with a remarkable design lineage—one that reflects the social, cultural, and technological transformations of the past century. And today, it remains a beloved canvas for creativity in all its colourful forms.