Laura Whitmore has returned to host a new series of Love Island: Aftersun and during Sunday's episode eagle-eyed viewers will have noticed that she was wearing a gold necklace sporting a shorthand insignia. The piece of jewellery was actually the work of a Welsh designer, Claire Hill.
Love Island hasn’t been short of Welsh connections in 2022, with Paige Thorne and Liam Llewellyn entering the villa last week, and it's an added bonus that the host is sporting some effortlessly chic Welsh-made items. Claire told WalesOnline that she was "beyond excited" at seeing Laura in the necklace. She added: "It's nice to see something that you designed yourself on TV."
The necklace’s insignia, when transcribed from shorthand (a system of taking down notes in a shortened, quick format) reads: “Love is Love”. Former Western Mail journalist Claire added: "I think Laura's great. There's a nice connection between the shorthand and what Love Island is all about."
The necklace is handmade with 14K gold vermeil and a base of 100% recycled 925 sterling silver. Presenter Laura, who returns to host the show for the third time, posted a photo of herself wearing the necklace on her Instagram.
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If you thought the piece might instantly sell out, don't worry, you're in luck and it’s still available to purchase. The “Love is Love” shorthand gold vermeil coin necklace can be bought on the Claire Hill Designs website for £147. Following the inclusion of the necklace on Aftersun, Claire said: "The response has been really good. I was in my studio at the time, so I managed to get loads of orders out for next-day delivery."
This isn't the first time that a celebrity has worn her jewellery. Strictly Come Dancing's Janette Manrara has also worn her products in OK! magazine. "Being a small business, there are a few different ways to get traction," she said. "I've been speaking to loads of celebrity stylists and that's how I sent the necklaces out."
Set up in 2016, Claire Hill Designs is a Welsh fine jewellery brand creating responsibly crafted, modern heirlooms inspired by hidden beauty. The brand is renowned for its use of sustainable materials, which is no doubt one of the reasons that it appealed to Love Island. Claire was first notified of the necklace's appearance on Love Island: Aftersun when Laura Whitmore tagged the company on Instagram after being sent a necklace.
As Love Island heads into its second week, it appears that the drama will mainly surround Islander, Gemma Owen. With the introduction of ex-boyfriend, Jacques, viewers should expect the ITV2 dating show to centre around the dynamic of him, Luca and Gemma. Welsh viewers, meanwhile, should keep an eye on Swansea paramedic Paige as she fights to win Jacques' attention, having recently become single.
Love Island started at 9pm Monday, June 6, on ITV2 and ITV Hub, with episodes available the following morning on BritBox. The show airs every weeknight and Sunday night at 9pm. On Saturdays, a regular episode is replaced by Love Island: Unseen Bits and the spin-off show, Love Island: Aftersun aired for the first time on Sunday, June, 12 at 10pm after the Sunday episode of Love Island.
What are your thoughts on Laura’s Welsh necklace? Let us know in the comments.
