JEWELRY: WHY IT'S IMPORTANT NOW
Wedding rings are passed down through families and remind us of our heritage, charms are collected to mark our travels, particular stones are worn to symbolize a birth month, and some tiny bit of string might adorn the wrist to remind us of our spirituality.
In all cases, the way we choose to adorn ourselves has never lost its importance. We can't simply dismiss jewelry as a frivolity. It is an intimate form of self expression that's as artful and full of meaning today as in ancient times.
Often there is more than one reason why we wear a certain piece, but is usually because it makes us feel more like ourselves. This fall, stacking continues as the key trend, paving the way for plenty of stylish self expression.
SURE, YOU LOVE IT. BUT DOES IT MEAN ANYTHING?
JEWELRY DESIGNERS WITH PURPOSE
Above: Ashley Pittman's iconic bangles.
ASHLEY PITTMAN
The Power of Place
Ashley Pittman donates 10% of all profits to help fund the Kamboo Dispensary and Kathiani Primary School in an area of Kenya particularly hard-hit by prolonged drought. Through the Ashley Pittman Foundation, the school has been provided with a source for clean, de-salinated drinking water, student uniforms, school supplies, hot lunches for the students, and teacher salaries.
Ashley reinterprets the power and simplicity expressed in the shapes and textures of centuries-old African jewelry. Each piece is entirely handcrafted in Kenya featuring repurposed horn, semiprecious gemstones, bronze and materials indigenous to East Africa.
Above: Heather Benjamin's unique, organic inspiration.
HEATHER BENJAMIN
Tribal Elegance
Out of her deep love, appreciation and reverence for the natural world, Heather Benjamin chooses ethically sourced materials. recycled sterling silver and sustainably harvested shell. The heart of her creations is engagement with the natural world - connecting us to beauty at its purest level. Heather's wish is that the relationship to nature, via sustainable minerals & metals will promote awareness and compassion so deeply needed for our planet.
Above: Julie Cohn's elegant interpretations.
JULIE COHN DESIGN
Simplicity of Form
As a self-taught jeweler, her approach is unconventional in process and begins by working directly with materials rather than sketching a preconceived idea. She finds inspiration in nature, primitive ethnic forms, indigenous crafts and old world processes. Her pieces are about possibilities for layering and stacking to create personal collages that uniquely juxtapose disparate elements with simple elegance.
Be your own kind of beautiful,
xxo,
trish
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