Make Wilde is a gorgeous line of sculptural accessories created by a talented pair of artists, Chloe and Andrew, in their Manhattan studio. Crafted from sustainable and recycled materials, Make Wilde’s pieces are truly unique and each item is carefully handmade to be its own piece of art. I find Make Wilde’s line beautiful and inspiring, and Chloe graciously shared a bit with me about her own source of inspiration.
The idea of jewelry as sculpture is fascinating and the pieces are “crafted to exhibit the beauty of humanity, the strength of love, and the exquisite imperfections of nature.” I especially love the use of silk fabric mixed with metals, and Chloe explained this process, which addresses the theme of emergence. Originally, the artists focused on the emergence of Earth’s formations, like rocks, minerals, and gems. But as they studied the concept more carefully, they noticed it’s really a natural phenomenon, as most things emerge from something completely different.
For Make Wilde, their gold pieces are the beginning, and the silk fabric emerges from them in a life-like way that is truly beautiful. In addition, the silk mirrors the fabric of our clothing and becomes an extension of it, something that we adorn ourselves with every day. Chloe wanted to create rings that were more comfortable and adaptable for daily wear, and pairing silk with metal seemed like the logical next step.
I find the entire concept fascinating and I love the beauty of these gorgeous pieces. Make Wilde is currently offering free summer shipping with each order and new pieces will debut this week. Be sure to visit Make Wilde’s site to see the entire line of sculptural pieces.
(I love the morning light in my bathroom.)
The dog days of summer are here, and we’re getting ready for the start of school in a few weeks. There are things to do and lists to cross off, but we still have a bit of summer left to enjoy, too. This weekend will be a quiet one, and I’m looking forward to it. Here are a few things that caught my eye this week.
How sustainable is Everlane? (I talked myself out of their new shirts this week. The colors are pretty, but I don’t need them.)
Teenagers are shopping (or not shopping) politically.
I just finished In a Dark, Dark Wood last night. It’s sort of like The Girl on the Train, but a little more twisted, a la Gone Girl.
A really gorgeous style profile from Apartment Therapy.
Raven + Lily’s fall lookbook is out and there are some lovely pieces.
“My life without gender.” A very thoughtful article on what it means to be agender.
Should parents attend every single game or event? One mom explains why she doesn’t.
And reader-submitted photos from the 1960s.
Have a great weekend!
(A glimpse of my closet.)
There’s been some backlash against ethical shopping lately, and while I normally take things like this in stride, I can’t say it didn’t ruffle my feathers, too. Leah from Style Wise wrote an excellent response recently, and she makes some valid points. I definitely recommend that you read it and take her suggestions to heart. Leah examines the issue on a more global scale and offers ways in which brands, bloggers, and consumers can make changes that will hopefully have greater lasting impact.
One of the things that frightens me most about these recent articles is that they seem to give regular shoppers a pass. If ethical shopping doesn’t really exist, then there’s nothing we can do to reduce the extreme poverty and hardships experienced by the makers of our clothes on the other side of the world. We might as well shrug our shoulders and keep doing what we’re doing, because it doesn’t really matter. We can’t change things, so why bother trying?
But the flaw in that argument is that it absolves us, as privileged shoppers, of any responsibility in the current state of affairs. The truth is, instead, that we can change things, if not on a grand scale, then very slowly, one person at a time. And that’s something, I think.
I realize, in the great scheme of things, that my small blog and my purchases aren’t going to change the world, and I know that I’m still participating in a cycle of consumerism that is broken at its very core. I’ve always liked shopping and fashion, and as I’ve come to learn about fair trade and ethical products, I’ve found a way to channel those interests into my blog and my lifestyle. I have the time and the resources to educate myself about the purchases I make, and I know that many people don’t have those same luxuries.
But my guess is that, if you’re reading this, you’re probably a lot like me, and your interests are somewhat similar, too. Hopefully the things I share will encourage you to make a few changes in your own shopping habits, or at the very least, will help you understand the bigger picture. I’ve learned too much to give up now, and I can’t imagine going back to my old consumer habits. I’ll always be an ethical shopper, and I hope I can encourage you to look more closely at your shopping habits, too.
