One way in which the Richmond fashion scene stands out is through the surprisingly vibrant community of local jewelry designers. From a designer that’s just getting started to a line of internationally recognized designs, these four artists are putting Richmond jewelry design on the map.
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One way in which the Richmond fashion scene stands out is through the surprisingly vibrant community of local jewelry designers. From a designer that’s just getting started to a line of internationally recognized designs, these four artists are putting Richmond jewelry design on the map.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE NEW ISSUE OF RVA MAGAZINE!
AØKO SU
Ashley Jerman of AØKO SU designs jewelry that is at once straightforward and elegant. “Modern architecture is a major inspiration for me,” Ashley explains. “I am also very interested in fractals, and more particularly biomimicry, which examines the manner in which human-made objects emulate the natural world.” These inspirations shine through designs with bold geometric shapes that reflect the interplay between the natural and man-made. Made in Richmond, AØKO SU is sold in boutiques across the country, as well as in Japan, Europe, and Australia. Ashley says that living in Richmond “has afforded me the financial freedom and time to start a business and maintain my creative needs by working solely for myself. Since my arrival to Richmond a year and a half ago, I have felt a certain magic and serendipity revolving around the time + place equation.” As for the name of her line, she explains that “the essence of AØKO SU is in the image of the sound it makes when spoken, and the visual imprint that it makes when read.”
Find AØKO SU as well as a list of boutiques that carry the line at aokosu.com.
ALEXANDER WHITEWAY
Alexander Whiteway is a multimedia artist who paints, works for the Virginia Repertory Theater designing sets, and has a penchant for making quirky jewelry. His first line, called “Previous,” was made from a vintage Mahjongg game set, bequeathed to him when his grandfather passed. The ivory and bamboo pieces were hand-carved and hand-painted. “I had no idea how to play the game, but I knew that the tiles were special,” he explains. Each piece from “Previous” is one of a kind, and enhanced by knowing that the Mahjongg tiles used were acquired while his grandfather was a Japanese translator in World War II. Whiteway hopes to continue making pieces out of items with entrancing histories. His commitment to using items steeped in history has a contemporary purpose. “Recycling is, in my mind, the only solution to purifying what we as a society have made a reality, for better or worse,” he explained. In an era of mass-produced costume jewelry, it makes sense to work with the antique objects already in circulation, to “move forward in a fresh way through innovation” as Whiteway did with this collection. His pieces range from simple ear gauges to androgynous necklaces. We’re interested to see what he’ll work with next, as he has the potential to build on the concept of “Previous” or go an entirely different route.
See Alexander Whiteway’s work at alexanderwhiteway.com.
DIGDOGDIG
Celeste Emiko Kamaha’o Rodero wanted fun jewelry to wear, but an allergy to most metals limited her choices. However, a limitation with the potential to stifle a designer became the creative catalyst for her unique cotton rope necklaces. Her pieces fuse the distinctly coastal influences of life spent by the Atlantic and Pacific, along with her tendency to find and gather objects in nature. These pieces aren’t meant for mass production. Every stone is one-of-a-kind, and the individuality of each piece a crucial facet to the concept. According to Celeste the name of her line, DigDogDig “is essentially what it says–like a dog, she digs up things to share [and] digs holes to keep things safe and precious–always on a journey of self-growth through aesthetic awareness.” In reference to her current jewelry designs, she says, “Although I am proud of how I have created pieces that are very simple, distinct, and bold, I would like to advance the structure of my pieces, which comes with skills I must learn.” This is quite a humble statement from someone whose pieces were recently picked up by Need Supply Co. Nevertheless, Celeste is all about artistic integrity, and feels no need to rush into starting an Etsy account, as she’d rather not rush the progress of her jewelry brand for the sake of business.
DigDogDig is available as an exclusive collection for Need Supply Co.
DRIFT RIOT
Beginning her path to jewelry design with a metals class, where her first foray consisted of “ugly belt buckles,” Kristy Santelli of Drift Riot soon started making jewelry for fun–which proved a much bigger hit than her belt buckle experiment. “I made jewelry for friends in New York, but my apartment was so small. Once I moved here I had studio space in my own home,” she explains. Living in Richmond afforded her the opportunity to make more jewelry, and soon enough Pink in Carytown picked up her line, taking Drift Riot out of the realm of mere hobby and turning it into a business venture. Designing busy jewelry by throwing together a smorgasbord of beads is one popular route for designers, but Drift Riot has the opposite sensibility. Kristy’s pieces are bold and minimal; think evocative industrial necklaces and dainty stackable rings. The craftsmanship behind her work begets a profound simplicity, jewelry the wearer can “live in and love, shower in, sleep in.” As for the name of her line, Kristy intends “Drift Riot” to echo juxtapositions found in her work. For example, the harshness of a man-made bullet as encasement for natural sparkling quartz. Kristy believes in “drifting through life from place to place, letting the currents take you wherever… But wherever you may drift, cause a riot. Have a blast.”
You can find Drift Riot at driftriot.com and Pink in Carytown.
