Raw Rocks: Make Wilde’s Earthy Beauty

Posted on Aug 19, 2016

By Arwa Lodhi

What comes raw from the Earth is sometimes the most beautiful, as Make Wilde’s designers Chloe Byrne and Andrew Sapienza know. Their summer collection is not only inspired by nature’s radiant sunrays and budding blooms, but their glowing golds, pure whites and rich reds were also inspired by Renaissance paintings and Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18.

Locally sourced Rubies, Sapphires, Topaz, Quartz clusters, and Herkimer Diamonds are set in recycled metals to create wee bits of wearable sculptures that bring a touch of the Earth’s ancient history to the wearer.

Byrne and Sapienza combine unexpected materials to create raw and elegant sculptural jewellery for Make Wilde. The pair designs and fabricates all items in their collections from their home studio in New York City.

For them, “sustainability is mindful decision making on every level of production. Sourcing our materials is a key part of our sustainable effort. All of the manufactured and handmade materials that we use in our items are produced domestically in the USA, including our recycled precious metal components. We reclaim many of our gemstones, and source all others from mines within the USA. Every piece from Make Wilde is handmade in New York City. ”

There’s certainly no waste here; each item is hand-sculpted-to-order, ensuring custom and precise attention to your jewellery. Designs are always created with nature in mind, giving each piece a “found” quality, a raw yet elegant aesthetic. The designing duo’s aim is to create affordable sustainable luxury jewellery for a growing community of conscious consumers who want to ensure what they purchase reflects their own values, and an alternative aesthetic which means what they choose to wear will be as unique as they are.

Here in this shoot, New York City visual storyteller and content creator Nini Zhang brings Make Wilde’s beautiful Summer collection to life against neutral interior tones.

photographers: Chloe Byrne, Andrew Sapienza

model + stylist : Nini Zhang

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Chere Di Boscio

Founder & Editor in Chief at Eluxe Magazine

Chere has always loved writing, fashion and languages, and holds degrees in Psychology and Art, and postgraduate degrees in Applied Linguistics and Education. Her long career in journalism spans several continents: she’s edited and written for prestigious magazines in Toronto, Dubai, Paris, London and Buenos Aires. Learn more about Chere’s extensive career on LinkedIn.

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