Swarovski Celebrates Eight Years Of Adding Sparkle To The Oscars®

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Swarovski is honored to be the key creative ingredient on the world's most revered stage for the eighth year running at the Oscars®. Tony Award®-winning production designer, Derek McLane, will partner with Swarovski for a third year in succession to crystallize the Dolby Digital Theater. The full design concept and visuals of the set will remain a closely guarded secret until the live telecast on Sunday, February 22^nd, when the Oscars will be broadcast across the globe on ABC at 7 PM EST.

With Swarovski's long-standing history in film, it felt natural to bring crystal to the Oscars' stage. 2007 marked the first year Swarovski sponsored the set design with a 34 foot, one-ton custom crystal curtain for the Dream Girls performance. This year, Derek McLane will incorporate more than 95,000 crystals into a design that will leave a dazzling impression both on Hollywood's brightest stars and viewers at home.

McLane's set will include one crystal decor piece weighing more than 7,700lbs crafted by nine artisans who spent more than 580 hours assembling crystal as well as additional decor pieces containing over 73,000 crystals from Swarovski that will dazzle on stage and in the theatre.

Last year McLane collaborated with Swarovski on six 'swag drapes' which used more than 64,000 Swarovski crystals. The shimmering drapes appeared behind singer and actress Idina Menzel during her live performance of the Oscar® winning song Let It Go.

Swarovski has been astonishing movie-goers with enchanting crystallized costume and set designs since the 1930s. Swarovski made its Hollywood debut in the 1932 film Blonde Venus, starring Marlene Dietrich who shimmered in statement jewelry pieces and embellished dresses. Since then, Swarovski has added the sparkle to costumes worn by award winning actresses such as Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz, Marilyn Monroe in Gentleman Prefer Blondes, Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's and more recently, Jennifer Hudson in Dream Girls and Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge and Lily James in Cinderella. Custom shimmering costumes, decor and chandeliers have also made appearances in Black Swan, Skyfall and The Great Gatsby.

Derek McLane, Production Designer commented: "I was excited to come back and work with Swarovski for a third year because I knew I could be a little bolder about what we could accomplish. The whole auditorium has a little more elegance and a little more sparkle this year. The Oscars is such an amazing show and I want to make it as beautiful as I can."

Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board, commented: "The Oscars represent the perfect blend of talent, creativity, glamour and excitement - values that are at the heart of everything we do at Swarovski. Once again, Derek McLane has turned his exceptional talent to the stage design and Swarovski is thrilled to partner with him for a third year running. Our longstanding heritage in the movie business goes back over eighty years, and our collaboration with Derek on the 2015 set designs reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that the Academy Awards event truly sparkles."

Swarovski

Swarovski delivers a diverse portfolio of unmatched quality, craftsmanship, and creativity that goes beyond the manufacturing of crystal. Founded in 1895 in Austria, Swarovski designs, manufactures, and markets high-quality crystals, genuine gemstones and created stones, and finished products such as jewelry, accessories, and lighting. In addition, Swarovski Crystal Worlds was established as a unique venue dedicated to showcasing artistic interpretations of crystal. Swarovski Entertainment collaborates with established industry partners and exceptional talent to produce international feature films, while the Swarovski Foundation supports creativity and culture, promotes wellbeing, and conserves natural resources. Now run by the fifth generation of family members, Swarovski Crystal Business has a global reach with approximately 2,480 stores in around 170 countries, more than 24,000 employees, and revenue of about 2.33 billion euros in 2013. Together with its sister companies Swarovski Optik (optical devices) and Tyrolit (abrasives), Swarovski Crystal Business forms the Swarovski Group. In 2013, the Group generated revenue of about 3.02 billion euros and employed more than 30,000 people. www.swarovskigroup.com 

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