jools fall 2008

butterfly chain * gold-plated leaf * double branch * 24k leaves

la-based designer sybil shimazu of jools recently introduced the fall 08 collection for her handcrafted accessory line. the latest edition features a bevy of nature-inspired concoctions ranging from butterfly flourishes and gold plated leaves to simple, organic shapes for fans who heart minimal styles.

many pieces can be scooped up for under $50 but bargainistas will find plenty of deals from past seasons stocked in the sale section.

happy anniversary alliway!

oh my, can you believe that alliway is already celebrating the first anniversary of its ward warehouse boutique? if you have yet to step inside the shop, there are lots of happy reasons to stop by during the in-store anniversary bash taking place later today.

enjoy one time only specials including 30% off the alliway & backstreet jewelry collections, 20% off handbags & 10% off the rest of the store (local lines stocked include lily lotus & kat uno designs). the wedding cafe and cake gallery are dishing up yummy treats plus raffles every thirty minutes mean you have a good chance of winning something fabulous!

• when: today, sep 19th - 4p to 8p
• where: alliway, ward warehouse
• fyi: first fifty guests score a goodie bag!

dream academy

madame de pompadour

if tales of gallant knights and their ladies-in-waiting make you swoon, click over to the newly opened etsy shop of le reve brise, a collection of utterly romantic jewelry evocative of eras past. honolulu designer roxanne iglesia (who just so happens to be the sister of hazelnut cottage creator jan avellana) finds inspiration in everything from the opulent beauty of the renaissance to the ethereal brilliance of starry skies to create her poetic collection.

entirely self-taught, roxanne painstakingly crafts each piece by hand to create designs dripping with sparkles and delicate filigree accents. while the intricate compositions may hint of the extravagance of marie antoinette's versailles, you may be surprised to learn that many pieces are actually improvised with the materials guiding the designer to the final creation.

 

le chocolat * marquise de montspan

require something a bit more ooh la la for an upcoming wedding or holiday soirée? book a private consultation with roxanne to create a custom look that will be the perfect foil for that fancy frock.

to celebrate the opening of le reve brise's etsy shop, mention h|h and score 15% off your order and complimentary shipping!

• expires: sat, oct 18th

goodwill hunting

the anthropology of modern adornment may sound like a curious class offering from the pages of a college catalog but just happens to be one of the inspirations behind meesah, honolulu designer melisa medalle's recently launched collection of forgotten and unloved castoffs transformed into "new" original designs.

living green is nothing new to the former ad exec who credits her bay area childhood for laying the foundation of her 24/7 sustainable lifestyle. years later, a visit home became the inspiration for taking melisa's on & off jewelry making hobby full-time after admiring a friend's recent acquisition of random jewelry goodness scored at a flea market. the proverbial light bulb (cfl, natch) moment followed, and upon returning to the islands melisa began scouting thrift shops and other sources for jewelry to deconstruct.

nani aho

lavern

meesah soon followed featuring one-of-a-kind designs composed with a mix of vintage, found and rescued findings. the idea is to close the loop (reduce - reuse - recycle) by remaking jewelry into more "earth friendly adornment". there are currently three collections - nani aho transforms repurposed fishing line from its utilitarian roots into unisex style while vintage lucite and recycled gemstones, beads and other bits have been reincarnated to create lavern and ligaia.

to keep meesah's carbon footprint small, packaging is kept to a minimum and made of 100% recycled material printed with plant-based inks. and, while melisa is working with neighborhood boutiques like chinatown's into to keep the collection local, a handful of limited edition pieces will be stocked exclusively in the online shop for far away fans.

p.s. click over to the official website to learn how you can win a meesah design!

{photo credit: patricia hom}

cast away

shima disc ring

monday morning eye candy courtesy of the gorgeous designs of misa jewelry. i happened to come across misa hamamoto's work while reading stacia designer stacy johnson's fashion flock blog and became instantly smitten with the organic sculptural feel of misa's collection.

the los angeles-based designer, who spent her childhood in oahu and micronesia, first dabbled in jewelry making at punahou and became reacquainted with her love of design after college. misa eventually tired of the demanding schedule required by her career in the investment world (aptly described as "living for the weekend") and decided to make a lifestyle switch and take her hobby full-time.

the result is a collection of thoughtfully composed pieces created via the ancient art of lost wax casting which requires misa to carve a mold out of wax that, after a time consuming process, eventually becomes the vessel for her design. the islands continue to inspire misa from afar and her lovely shima collection recreates coral's porous surface with warm matte metals that seem to play with positive and negative space.

nami earrings

shima teardrop necklace

shima cuff

and, i am happy to report that the earth gets a little more love since misa also donates a portion of her sales to environmental protection and awareness non-profits.

alas, online shopping is not yet available and currently stockists are limited to los angeles. let's hope that will change after this post so island admirers can scoop up misa jewelry in hawaii.

{mahalo stacy!}