Young Label Making Old Methods New Again
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Etkie
Southwestern United States
When Sydney Alfonso decided to start her jewelry line, Etkie, in 2014, she was living in Istanbul. But instead of using the Turkish kazalik technique of silk wire weaving, she chose to create bracelets and necklaces inspired by traditional Navajo beadwork and created on the same looms that have existed for centuries.
Alfonso is well on her way to achieving her ultimate goal: creating dignified jobs in local communities by honoring their inhabitants’ customs and traditions. The jewelry is made primarily on a Navajo reservation, just 30 minutes from the ranch in New Mexico where Alfonso grew up. “The artisans work from home and create their own schedules according to their family and community needs,” she says. What results are beautiful beaded bracelets that are equally traditional and modern. “Our artisans believe that when something is handcrafted, a piece of their spirit is infused in each piece,” Alfonso says. “With each stitch, you can tell it has been made with love.” etkie.com.