And so, a love for sewing and embroidery began – one that would eventually culminate in an Etsy shop where she now sells hand-embroidered necklaces and earrings, all made with special care and attention. “I used to work as a freelance photojournalist, but when I got pregnant, my husband and I decided that I’d stay at home for a while and take care of our daughter,” she explained in an interview with the Etsy blog, describing how her career came to be. “About a year after she was born, I started to feel like I wanted to do something creative again. I started making an inventory of my skills and what I’d like to do, and I decided I’d really enjoy working with fabric and drawing and colors. I had a few threads, so I tried embroidering, and it’s cliché, but it was love at first sight.”

When it comes to Thursday More’s creative inspiration, color plays a huge part. she admits she goes color hunting on the internet, saving references on her computer for a later time. Aside from color, her designs are also influenced by her mood, imagination, and memories, making her creations both personal and appealing.

“I try to stitch every day, even just for an hour,” she says. “I like the portability, the fact that I can take it with me wherever I go. It doesn’t require electricity. It doesn’t require the internet. With hand embroidery, you’re just in the moment.” Here are some of our favorite creations by her:

The post Why Not Add Embroidery to Your Jewelry Collection? appeared first on PlayJunkie.

“Elysian means beautiful, blissful, and ethereal, and also happens to be one possible origin story for my name, Elyse,” writes Tolles on her website, explaining her brand’s name. “In classical mythology, the Elysian Fields were a dreamed about place of ultimate beauty and happiness, and my personal favorite definition of the word is Ancient Greek one that means “to be deeply stirred from joy.” 

“All I’ve ever really wanted is to spend my life making and being surrounded by beautiful things,” she notes, adding that this venture has given her the opportunity to be a part of the transformative effect that can happen when a person looks and feels their best.

Made using polymer clay, each of her pieces is individually designed, pigmented, sculpted, and detailed by hand from start to finish – the antithesis to mass-produced, fast fashion items. It also means that no two pieces exactly alike.

“I’m constantly inspired by the nothing-short-of-magical feeling you get from wearing a gorgeous pair of statement earrings, and it’s my greatest honor to be able to pass that along to you,” says Tolles. Other sources of inspiration are contemporary feminine, all things dreamy and ethereal, and the juxtaposition of modern and old-world.

Prepare to fall in love with a pair of earrings:

The post Elyse Tolles Makes Sophisticated Statement Earrings appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Born in Istanbul, Atay Pastirmaci had earned a BA in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Kingston University, UK and had worked more than five years in technology and consulting, before taking a leap of faith into sewing.

Now based in Seattle, Atay Pastirmaci specializes in bags that combine art and fashion. “Before Boejack Design, I had a very boring engineering career,” she shared with the Etsy blog. “I was in need of a hobby; I wanted to create something from scratch. I found this old sewing machine of my grandmother’s, and I taught myself to use it.”

The first bags she made were for herself and her friends, with no intention of selling them. But attending a motivational workshop in 2011 she decided to try and see if her creations had any buyers. Nowadays, her bags sell by the hundreds.

All bags are hand-sewn in limited numbers in her home studio, as she emphasizes on small batch production and sources her materials locally. “It’s about continuous improvement,” says Atay Pastirmaci, describing her design process. “It always starts with the question of how something is going to be used. First I decide what it’s going to be, say, a makeup bag or backpack. After I come up with a prototype, I use it (and ask my friends to use it) for a couple of weeks. Then I ask their opinions about the particular style: Do I need to add a zipper to the opening? Change the size? Add another pocket?”

Her designs blend a playful use of color and shapes with a minimalist yet functional style. You’d want to grab one yourself.

The post These Handcrafted Bags Combine Art and Fashion appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Alterita Jewelry

Layla Alter’s fruit-shaped accessories and jewelry took the fashion world by storm, catching the attention of top tier publications like Vogue, Teen Vogue, and Refinery29. Her collections feature beachy designs and fresh feminine themes such as glass charms, cherry earrings, and heart-shaped headbands. Our inner child is shook!

WALD

Berlin-based jewelry brand WALD incorporates shells and corals into its summery collections. Inspired by ’90s nostalgia and trips to the beach, their trendy pieces have amassed more than 40k fans on Instagram, and we can see why. The brand works closely with German biologists who supply the shells and corals and ensure that they are not on the protected species list.

Slashed by Tia

Nigeria-born, New York-based designer, Teni Adeola (aka Tia) is known for her vibrant, summery pieces. At only 22, her clothes (think sheer ruffles) were sported by megastars like Gigi Hadid, Kali Uchis, and Dua Lipa. “She’s ready to be one of the greatest female couture designers in the world,” announced Teen Vogue. Watch out!

The post Goodbye Summer! These Are Our Favorite Looks to Wear to the Beach appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Upon moving back to the states to further pursue her interest in sustainable fashion, Zwart worked in Design and Product Sustainability at TOMS Shoes. She developed AZLEE’s first collection while still at TOMS, eventually parting ways to establish her brand in Spring 2015. Nowadays, she’s fully invested in her brand, creating long-lasting, quality pieces which pinnacles in her Custom Atelier.

Zwart’s design aesthetic is characterized by her fresh perspective and restrained approach. Made of 18k gold and platinum, AZLEE’s pieces are made locally in Los Angeles by master craftsman. The enamel is hand-painted by a local artist and the jewelers are top craftsman in their field.

Her pieces feel modern and chic, yet effortlessly wearable, with personal influences that include French Art Deco as well as her fascination with ancient civilizations. “I’m really passionate about creating fine jewelry options for modern women, that feel approachable for everyday wear, but special enough to invest in knowing they will have it for years to come,” she told Flaunt.

“I also have kept distribution strategic, so that when clients come across our brand they feel like they’ve discovered it, and it won’t be something all of their friends have,” she adds.

“I’ve always loved the Art Deco era of jewelry, it was so architectural and linear with the use of such unusual shapes of stones and diamonds, and I design in a very linear way, so I have loved creating a more modern take on Deco. On the other hand I’ve also been fascinated by ancient civilizations for as long as I can remember, so being able to create ancient looking coins, in solid gold was always an ambition of mine, and so was combing those two worlds, Ancient and Deco, and that’s really the voice and foundation of our collection.”

Add a touch of modern glam (with an ancient twist) to your jewelry collection, or follow AZLEE’s creations from afar.

The post This Jewelry Brand Combines Modern and Ancient Aesthetics appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Each piece is made by hand and assembled in the Tuza Mexico City workshop. Every season, Tuza donates a portion of proceeds to female-led organizations, as Atala treats her brand as a part of the female empowerment movement.

“Tuza has become one of the most sustainable and ethical brands of its kind by maintaining a made to order model in its workshop in the heart of Mexico City,” write Atala on the brand’s website. “As an outcome, they’ve been able to create jobs for raisins and support local suppliers.”

Check out some of their designs in the gallery below.

The post Tuza Makes Quirky, Sustainable Fashion appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Alter’s fairly new jewelry brand, Alterita, launched in 2018 but has gone pretty viral ever since with it’s whimsical accessories that remind us of the happy ’90s. “I’m very childish at heart,” admitted Alter in an interview with Teen Vogue. “I’m very connected to my younger self.”

Her newest collection features glass charms handmade locally by artist Mariko Makino at Brooklyn Glass studio. Talking about her inspiration for it, Alter said: “I was like, ‘What would I want to wear on the beach?’ I want to be wearing lemons. I want a headband.” 

Which of these fashionable pieces would you rock to the beach?

The post Accessorize Your Inner Child with These Glass Charms appeared first on PlayJunkie.

And so, a love for sewing and embroidery began – one that would eventually culminate in an Etsy shop where she now sells hand-embroidered necklaces and earrings, all made with special care and attention. “I used to work as a freelance photojournalist, but when I got pregnant, my husband and I decided that I’d stay at home for a while and take care of our daughter,” she explained in an interview with the Etsy blog, describing how her career came to be. “About a year after she was born, I started to feel like I wanted to do something creative again. I started making an inventory of my skills and what I’d like to do, and I decided I’d really enjoy working with fabric and drawing and colors. I had a few threads, so I tried embroidering, and it’s cliché, but it was love at first sight.”

When it comes to Thursday More’s creative inspiration, color plays a huge part. she admits she goes color hunting on the internet, saving references on her computer for a later time. Aside from color, her designs are also influenced by her mood, imagination, and memories, making her creations both personal and appealing.

“I try to stitch every day, even just for an hour,” she says. “I like the portability, the fact that I can take it with me wherever I go. It doesn’t require electricity. It doesn’t require the internet. With hand embroidery, you’re just in the moment.” Here are some of our favorite creations by her:

The post Why Not Add Embroidery to Your Jewelry Collection? appeared first on PlayJunkie.

“Elysian means beautiful, blissful, and ethereal, and also happens to be one possible origin story for my name, Elyse,” writes Tolles on her website, explaining her brand’s name. “In classical mythology, the Elysian Fields were a dreamed about place of ultimate beauty and happiness, and my personal favorite definition of the word is Ancient Greek one that means “to be deeply stirred from joy.” 

“All I’ve ever really wanted is to spend my life making and being surrounded by beautiful things,” she notes, adding that this venture has given her the opportunity to be a part of the transformative effect that can happen when a person looks and feels their best.

Made using polymer clay, each of her pieces is individually designed, pigmented, sculpted, and detailed by hand from start to finish – the antithesis to mass-produced, fast fashion items. It also means that no two pieces exactly alike.

“I’m constantly inspired by the nothing-short-of-magical feeling you get from wearing a gorgeous pair of statement earrings, and it’s my greatest honor to be able to pass that along to you,” says Tolles. Other sources of inspiration are contemporary feminine, all things dreamy and ethereal, and the juxtaposition of modern and old-world.

Prepare to fall in love with a pair of earrings:

The post Elyse Tolles Makes Sophisticated Statement Earrings appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Born in Istanbul, Atay Pastirmaci had earned a BA in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Kingston University, UK and had worked more than five years in technology and consulting, before taking a leap of faith into sewing.

Now based in Seattle, Atay Pastirmaci specializes in bags that combine art and fashion. “Before Boejack Design, I had a very boring engineering career,” she shared with the Etsy blog. “I was in need of a hobby; I wanted to create something from scratch. I found this old sewing machine of my grandmother’s, and I taught myself to use it.”

The first bags she made were for herself and her friends, with no intention of selling them. But attending a motivational workshop in 2011 she decided to try and see if her creations had any buyers. Nowadays, her bags sell by the hundreds.

All bags are hand-sewn in limited numbers in her home studio, as she emphasizes on small batch production and sources her materials locally. “It’s about continuous improvement,” says Atay Pastirmaci, describing her design process. “It always starts with the question of how something is going to be used. First I decide what it’s going to be, say, a makeup bag or backpack. After I come up with a prototype, I use it (and ask my friends to use it) for a couple of weeks. Then I ask their opinions about the particular style: Do I need to add a zipper to the opening? Change the size? Add another pocket?”

Her designs blend a playful use of color and shapes with a minimalist yet functional style. You’d want to grab one yourself.

The post These Handcrafted Bags Combine Art and Fashion appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Alterita Jewelry

Layla Alter’s fruit-shaped accessories and jewelry took the fashion world by storm, catching the attention of top tier publications like Vogue, Teen Vogue, and Refinery29. Her collections feature beachy designs and fresh feminine themes such as glass charms, cherry earrings, and heart-shaped headbands. Our inner child is shook!

WALD

Berlin-based jewelry brand WALD incorporates shells and corals into its summery collections. Inspired by ’90s nostalgia and trips to the beach, their trendy pieces have amassed more than 40k fans on Instagram, and we can see why. The brand works closely with German biologists who supply the shells and corals and ensure that they are not on the protected species list.

Slashed by Tia

Nigeria-born, New York-based designer, Teni Adeola (aka Tia) is known for her vibrant, summery pieces. At only 22, her clothes (think sheer ruffles) were sported by megastars like Gigi Hadid, Kali Uchis, and Dua Lipa. “She’s ready to be one of the greatest female couture designers in the world,” announced Teen Vogue. Watch out!

The post Goodbye Summer! These Are Our Favorite Looks to Wear to the Beach appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Upon moving back to the states to further pursue her interest in sustainable fashion, Zwart worked in Design and Product Sustainability at TOMS Shoes. She developed AZLEE’s first collection while still at TOMS, eventually parting ways to establish her brand in Spring 2015. Nowadays, she’s fully invested in her brand, creating long-lasting, quality pieces which pinnacles in her Custom Atelier.

Zwart’s design aesthetic is characterized by her fresh perspective and restrained approach. Made of 18k gold and platinum, AZLEE’s pieces are made locally in Los Angeles by master craftsman. The enamel is hand-painted by a local artist and the jewelers are top craftsman in their field.

Her pieces feel modern and chic, yet effortlessly wearable, with personal influences that include French Art Deco as well as her fascination with ancient civilizations. “I’m really passionate about creating fine jewelry options for modern women, that feel approachable for everyday wear, but special enough to invest in knowing they will have it for years to come,” she told Flaunt.

“I also have kept distribution strategic, so that when clients come across our brand they feel like they’ve discovered it, and it won’t be something all of their friends have,” she adds.

“I’ve always loved the Art Deco era of jewelry, it was so architectural and linear with the use of such unusual shapes of stones and diamonds, and I design in a very linear way, so I have loved creating a more modern take on Deco. On the other hand I’ve also been fascinated by ancient civilizations for as long as I can remember, so being able to create ancient looking coins, in solid gold was always an ambition of mine, and so was combing those two worlds, Ancient and Deco, and that’s really the voice and foundation of our collection.”

Add a touch of modern glam (with an ancient twist) to your jewelry collection, or follow AZLEE’s creations from afar.

The post This Jewelry Brand Combines Modern and Ancient Aesthetics appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Each piece is made by hand and assembled in the Tuza Mexico City workshop. Every season, Tuza donates a portion of proceeds to female-led organizations, as Atala treats her brand as a part of the female empowerment movement.

“Tuza has become one of the most sustainable and ethical brands of its kind by maintaining a made to order model in its workshop in the heart of Mexico City,” write Atala on the brand’s website. “As an outcome, they’ve been able to create jobs for raisins and support local suppliers.”

Check out some of their designs in the gallery below.

The post Tuza Makes Quirky, Sustainable Fashion appeared first on PlayJunkie.

Alter’s fairly new jewelry brand, Alterita, launched in 2018 but has gone pretty viral ever since with it’s whimsical accessories that remind us of the happy ’90s. “I’m very childish at heart,” admitted Alter in an interview with Teen Vogue. “I’m very connected to my younger self.”

Her newest collection features glass charms handmade locally by artist Mariko Makino at Brooklyn Glass studio. Talking about her inspiration for it, Alter said: “I was like, ‘What would I want to wear on the beach?’ I want to be wearing lemons. I want a headband.” 

Which of these fashionable pieces would you rock to the beach?

The post Accessorize Your Inner Child with These Glass Charms appeared first on PlayJunkie.