Nature has a way of making even its smallest details feel extraordinary. From the intricate architecture of a pinecone to the delicate silhouette of a seed carried by the wind, the natural world offers an endless vocabulary of shapes and textures. For its Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, Scattered Seeds, Alex Monroe looks to these often-overlooked forms, translating their organic beauty into a series of sculptural jewelry designs that reflect the changing seasons and the enduring rhythm of renewal.

The collection takes inspiration from the transitional moment at the end of summer, when the warmth of the season begins to fade, and nature prepares for what comes next. Dried seeds became the starting point for Alex Monroe and the design team, who explored their varied structures and textures in search of forms that could be reimagined through jewelry. The resulting collection captures the softness of late-season light, balancing delicate botanical references with more defined, architectural silhouettes.

Rather than simply recreating natural forms, Scattered Seeds interprets them through a considered approach to craftsmanship. Honesty pods, sunflower seeds, poppy heads, and pinecones each inform a different element of the collection, lending their distinctive shapes to earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings.

These references create a cohesive visual language throughout the designs, while the variation in scale and structure allows each piece to express its own interpretation of the natural world.

At the heart of the collection is a meticulous handmaking process that brings these references to life. Working in its design workshop, the team employs a range of techniques to capture the intricacies of each form, from compressing layers of silver to recreate honesty pods to painstakingly building the structured layers of a pinecone.

The attention given to these details gives the jewelry a dimensional quality, preserving the irregularities and complexity that make their natural counterparts so compelling.

Among the collection's more distinctive designs is the oval Make a Wish keepsake locket, hand-engraved with the delicate image of dandelion seeds drifting away. The motif introduces a sense of movement and nostalgia, recalling the familiar gesture of making a wish before blowing on a dandelion.

Elsewhere, pink freshwater pearls bring a subtle warmth and luminosity to the designs, complementing the poppy seed head motifs that appear throughout the collection. These softer details provide a thoughtful contrast to the sculptural silver forms.

The individual pieces explore the collection's botanical inspiration through a variety of silhouettes. Chandelier earrings reinterpret sunflower seeds and poppy heads into expressive statement designs, while smaller huggies and studs offer a more understated take on the same references.

Necklaces range from pinecone pendants and sunflower seed charms to sculptural poppy seed head designs, while rings and bracelets incorporate linked seed forms and scattered botanical details. Available in silver and gold-plated finishes, the assortment moves between delicate everyday jewelry and more elaborate statement pieces without losing its connection to the collection's original inspiration.

Beyond its visual language, Scattered Seeds carries a deeper consideration of memory and the objects we choose to hold onto. Seeds represent the possibility of new beginnings, carrying the promise of life long after they have fallen from their original source.

Monroe translates this symbolism into jewelry intended to become part of a person's own history, with pieces that can be treasured and passed from one generation to the next. The idea of preserving something fleeting becomes central to the collection's identity, giving its designs meaning beyond their material form.

With Scattered Seeds, Alex Monroe finds beauty in the natural process of change, celebrating the small details that might otherwise go unnoticed. Through intricate handcraftsmanship, botanical references, and thoughtful symbolism, the AW/26 collection transforms the familiar forms of nature into lasting personal keepsakes. Like the seeds that inspire it, each piece carries the suggestion of a story that continues beyond its beginnings.

Article by Emma Green, Assistant to Editor-In-Chief, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Daniel Lopez, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
*Images Courtesy of Alex Monroe

Scattered Seeds: Alex Monroe Finds Beauty in Nature’s Cycle of Renewal