A friend once teased me about my addiction to knitting. He pointed out that I had knit practically an entire wardrobe for myself: sweaters, skirts, hats, mitts, gloves, scarves, bikinis, socks, and slippers. The one item he said I was missing was a pair of shoes. Rather than get offended, I took that as a […]
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Japan is known for its street fashion (popularized in the United States by Fruits magazine and Gwen Stefani’s entourage of Harajuku Girls). Street style is more than just a cute outfit, it’s a whole look, mentality, and way of acting. Kogals emulate the California Valley Girl, with bleached hair, dark tans, light-colored lips, and their […]
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We started Escama (Portuguese for “fish scales”) three years ago after seeing the way Brazilian women incorporated used pull-tabs into their crocheting. We worked with two craft co-ops to design and produce a range of purses. Experts warned us that we’d need to use machines to get consistent quality. Luckily experts are sometimes wrong. 15,000 […]
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Temari is an ancient Japanese folk art dating back more than 500 years. Temari means “hand” (te) “ball” (mari), relating to both making by and playing with the hands. Originally, balls for games and children were made from bits and scraps of kimono, other clothing, or deer hide. Strips of cloth or leather would be […]
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A Hawaiian quilt is one of Hawaii’s cherished heirlooms, passed down through generations of families to tell the story of the quilter, the designer, and the receiver. Traditional designs include papayas, breadfruit, ti leaves, and taro roots, but can be anything that illustrates a love for nature, traditions, legends, or events. I recommend that you […]
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These simple yet eye-catching sandals represent the marriage of uptown chic with downtown style. Called “weekend” sandals, they can be stitched one weekend, dropped at the cobbler on Monday, and worn the following weekend to the farmer’s market or on a dinner date. Stitched in bamboo, silk, and metallic, the shoes are comfortable, classy, and […]
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By Norene Leddy with Ed Bringas and Johana Moscoso The Alarm Purse is a simple, fashionable way to add an audible alarm to your handbag. Tuck it away when you don’t need it (so it won’t go off by accident) and quickly hook it up when you do. The latest addition to the ongoing Aphrodite […]
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