Living plant jewelry is a beautiful addition to any eco-conscious wardrobe. Crafted from plants – both currently alive and formerly living – this botanical jewelry is perfect for the nature lover in us all.

Have you ever dreamed of taking a little piece of nature with you everywhere you go? Then look no further than the organic jewelry being offered by this talented group of designers.

Some of these pieces will last for weeks, while others will last for months, or maybe even years with the proper care. And the best part is that you don’t have to have a green thumb to keep these tiny plants alive and well.

Succulent Necklace

This stunning succulent necklace from Passionflower Made would be a gorgeous and versatile statement piece for a variety of occasions. Perfect for weddings, brides and bridesmaids would look dreamy in these unique, made-to-order necklaces. Donning this to a cocktail party or wearing atop your favorite white tee and jeans would look equally as lovely. Not only are these tiny succulents thriving, but they can also be replanted when they’ve met their shelf life. Made from brass, the base to this necklace can be refilled by the shop owner when mailed back.

Terrarium Necklace

This tusk-shaped terrarium necklace from With Roots has longevity covered. With the proper care this pendant is actually self-sustaining. Due to its design, the enclosed tusk creates a greenhouse effect and produces condensation to keep the moss moist from exposure to the sun. As stylish as it is eco-friendly, this necklace is definitely one worth springing for.

Geometric Necklace

This adorably tiny planter necklace is just the thing to hold those itty bitty wildflowers and succulent clippings. Designed by the store’s owner in CAD and then materialized with the use of a 3D printer, these are the perfect mix of granola and high-tech. In addition to their excellent planting and how to wear tutorials, Wearable Planter also has geometric design down to a science.

Succulent Earrings

Another gorgeous offering from Passionflower Made, these succulent earrings are actually quite practical for the everyday wardrobe. Whether you wear them to the park or a party, just be sure to get in as much time as possible over the next 2 to 3 weeks. Even more sentimental if worn for a special occasion, the planted clippings eventually transform into a beautiful house plant that will serve as a reminder of the great time that was had.

Dried Flower Earrings

Try on these colorful beauties from Chus Craft and proudly display your affinity for flowers and nature. These woodland style earrings are made with real preserved flower petals from daisies, forget-me-nots, or globe amaranths, and will add a pop of color to any outfit. With an antique brass ear hoop, they also have a strong vintage vibe.

Succulent Bracelet

Yet another masterpiece from Passionflower Made is this gorgeous succulent bracelet designed to make you the talk of the party everywhere you go. With a medley of jade, sea foam, amethyst, and lilac, this multicolored beauty has the power to transform and enliven even the most mundane of ensembles.

Resin Leaf Bracelet

Created with real green leaves and resin, this gold plated bracelet from ALOTS/S is definitely a classy piece of arm candy. With a beautiful modern vibe and organic touch, this bracelet is appropriate for everyday wear.

Air Plant Ring

This miniature cocktail ring from Recologies is equipped with an air plant that requires nothing more than a bit of water, a little sun, and ample oxygen to survive. If this isn’t kill proof, then I don’t know what is. These plants are said to be hand grown in the bonsai miniature tradition and varies slightly from piece to piece due to its organic nature. Another plus is that this adjustable cutie would look great with just about everything, and is the perfect ice breaker at an awkward party or stuffy dinner.

Geometric Ring

Say “I do” to this diamond shaped planter ring. Another cool and useful offering from Wearable Planter, this bauble, reminiscent of the colors that are pop art, is ready to be the new home of the tiny plant clipping of your choice. Not exactly sure what to use? Then follow their helpful guidelines here.

Planter Brooch

If you’re a nature lover, then wear your heart on your lapel with this mini planter brooch from Wearable Planter. Designed and created just like their other planter products, this tech savvy pin actually uses magnets in order to preserve your clothes. Add your own plant clippings and affix this brooch to your favorite blouse or handbag.

After taking a look at our living plant jewelry roundup, we want to hear from you, dear readers. Would you purchase living plant jewelry, even if that meant it wouldn’t last forever? How do you feel about this trend – hot or not? Take a minute and share your thoughts on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Image of Planter Necklace via Wearable Planter

The post Living Plant Jewelry: A Budding New Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnFor fashion label Mikuti, it’s a family affair.

Bombarded with beautiful beaded bangles, there’s an inexplicable awe that comes through observing the brilliant outcome of a designer’s process. Sifting through images from designer Erika Freud – the creative behind breakout accessory label Mikuti – on her most recent journey in East Africa, was like living inside a rainbow. Sourcing materials and producing Mikuti’s adornments through cooperation with artisans in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, Freud has an eye for the standout colors and designs that make a statement.

Growing up in a family of culinary artists, that also held an interest in designing homes and gardens, Freud has creativity flowing through her veins. After spending 3 months in Tanzania with a small group who were working on some economic development projects, Freud and her team realized there was a way to create a bracelet out of banana bark.

“When I saw there was a potential market for it, as well as an opportunity to create jobs for the individuals I was working with and possibly myself, I ran with the idea of starting a company,” Freud tells EcoSalon.

In a few short years since Freud began her business endeavor, Mikuti has quickly become an attention-grabbing accessory brand for fresh fashion designers. Labels such as Mara Hoffman, AFIA, and ChiChia London, have all embraced Mikuti’s bangles as an enhancement for their recent lookbooks and runway events. What do they all have in common? None of them seem to be the least bit intimidated to throw blasts of color and print into their collections.

When Freud journeys to East Africa from her NYC home, she lives her every moment abroad to the fullest. Working on several collections on the same trip, Freud is developing two small, limited edition summer collections focused on color trends – Neons & Neutrals and For The Love Of Fuchsia. “I love color, especially these. It’s a small, fun collection that I think everyone will really like,” Freud says.

The limited number of summer pieces are being created in Kenya from recycled aluminum and beads. “I’ve worked with both materials before, so since I’m familiar with it, it’s made it easy for me to develop new ideas around it,” Freud says.

Working with talented artisans has influenced the creation process for Mikuti. Freud tells EcoSalon about how her beader is a standout individual. “She’s incredibly skilled and really knows how to execute my ideas. Whether it’s going bead shopping or going over color combinations, I genuinely enjoy her. Plus, she has a lot of good ideas for future possible designs. I think creativity breeds creativity. Once you get going with someone, the ideas just start to flow.”

Freud was definitely fed creativity at home growing up, and that knack for imaginative resourcefulness has only evolved in a collaborative relationship with her father. As Freud does the majority of her framework designing in the U.S., having “samples” to share with the artisans abroad can be key.

“By trade, my dad is a highly skilled builder and designer. The week before my trip, my father and I sat together in the garage many nights, cutting pieces of wood from my drawings for me to use as molds,” she explains.

These wood carvings are an ideal way to relay the design direction and aesthetic to her collaborators abroad. Having now worked in East Africa for about 3 years, Freud is quite methodical on how to communicate her ideas. The process begins with a pattern that she sketches. Then, her father creates a model of her design using thin plywood. Freud explains, “I do this because it helps me see the actual size and feel of something and let’s me imagine it to a point in my mind.”

When she travels to East Africa, she brings all of her plywood pieces and shows them to the artisan she has been working with. “He then creates it with whatever metal I choose and together, we fine-tune it. Sometimes this happens in one try, other times it takes 5 tries. It depends on the complexity of the piece. I really value his opinion and genuinely enjoy the collaborative experience we have,” Freud says.

In addition to the fabulous fuchsia and neon/neutral pieces for summer, Freud is also producing her Fall/Winter collection along this journey in East Africa. Inspired by Native American culture, Freud visited an array of museums and exhibits, while extensively researching traditional Native American dress and adornments over the past months.

“There’s something about old cultures and traditions I’m very drawn to. I like learning about them and then taking things from them to create a piece of jewelry. I recall visiting the Native American Museum in Washington, DC to do some research, where I was in awe of all the different shapes of arrowheads exhibited. I also loved looking at the totem poles and pulling ideas from them,” Freud explains.

Mikuti’s Fall/Winter collection has a material focus of horn and brass, sourced from Kenya and Uganda. Having never worked with either of these materials, Freud has found it exceptionally helpful having worked previously with this artisan in Kenya.

“He’s highly skilled and I enjoy working with him through the product development phase. He excels at taking my drawings and seeing them to fruition,” Freud says.
For the horn pieces, Freud is working with a few different artisans in the Kampala region of Uganda. An agribusiness byproduct, the horn Mikuti features is recycled from local butcheries. For Freud, venturing into Uganda has been a new opportunity to integrate “another sustainable, eco-friendly angle and to work in a new region and support the local artisans.”

Continuously melding innovative angles into her designs, Freud’s creations have depth. She expresses an inspired enjoyment in learning about the spirituality woven into Native American culture.

“Like many old cultures, jewelry played a role in this. So, a lot of my ideas were formed around their spirituality and I tried to bring that to each of my pieces,” she says.
Emotionally, Freud is excited about her upcoming Fall/Winter collection.

“I’ve really stepped out of my comfort zone and feel as though this collection brings everything full circle.”

While many aspects of Freud’s supply chain and design inspirations may have come full circle for her, it seems Mikuti’s distinct presence on the fashion circuit has only just begun.

The post THREADED: Mikuti’s Eye Candy Harbors A Sweet Story appeared first on EcoSalon.

Coco knew her accessories: “It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion that heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure, ” she declared. As the fashion revolutionary who ushered in a modern era of dressing, pioneering the use of jersey knit and costume jewelry, she understood the value of a well-placed piece to accent a simple silhouette.

And yet there is timelessness to Blank Verse’s handmade jewelry pieces that predate even Mademoiselle Chanel herself. Representing a potpourri of decorative time periods, each one-of-a-kind piece is re-purposed from scraps of leather, surplus fabrics, buttons, beads and vintage lace, then beautifully recalibrated into the pure nowness that is eco-chic.

Blank Verse is obviously the name given to a form of poetry, but neither rhyme nor reason explains the enthralling nature of the upcycled jewelry collection by designers Jane Farrar and Laamie Young. Their materials are rummaged from family and friends, flea markets and vintage shops, and are handmade in the ladies’ sunny Santa Cruz studio.

In true eco-chic style (i.e. less is always more), let your accessories do the talking this spring. Pair a cuff from Blank Verse with your daily “I’ve got a planet to save” uniform of green-designed jeans and a tee, then notice if your entrances and exits start to take on a slower, more poetic nature.

Available at branchboutique.com.

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