serendipity: Melissa Joy Manning

Melissa Joy Manning（メリッサ・ジョイ・マニング）サンフランシスコのベイエリア、オークランドで活動中。

繊細ながら、女性を本当に美しく見せてくれる

ハンマーで叩かれたその表面が見る角度により輝きを放ちます。

この華奢なタイプのピアスは何個も持っている。

色がシルバー、ゴールド、ピンクゴールドとありしかも形は数えきれないほどあるので選びきれない上に、いろんなサイズが欲しくなる。

というのも実際よく使うから。

軽くて自然な色合いは付けやすくシンプルなんだけど、ちゃんと存在感がある。

カジュアルな格好をしなくてはいけない日だけどちょっと大人な感じも欲しいときに耳元だけこれをつけると一気に小奇麗に見える、結婚式でアクセをジャラジャラ付けるのが苦手な人にも、リゾートの格好にこれだけ付けると嫌らしくなくさり気ないオシャレに、もちろん普段のおしゃれにといろんなパターンに使える。

付けた人ならわかる万能ピアス。

Melissa Jo Manning chose Berkeley for her first retail outlet. The jewelry store is at 1827 5th Street.

Melissa Joy Manning and her showroom

Melissa Joy Manning’s sunlit showroom in New York's Soho neighborhood has the surprising feeling of a back room at the Museum of Natural History. Among the cowhides covering the creaky wooden floors and the sleek furniture and grand chandelier are glass cabinets where the designer's curated collection of nature specimens—like river rocks, bones, and fossils—shares space with her one-of-a kind heirloom quality jewelry. Manning tells us, “The balance of elements intrigues me—perfectly created modern items contrasted with natural organic textures and surfaces."

Indeed, Manning's modern jewelry pieces are infused with natural elements—hand-hammered metal; rough-hewn or unfinished stones; and fossils, teeth and even claws. Sustainability is a major part of her practice, whether that means making every effort to buy only conflict-free diamonds, recycling scrap metal or incorporating as many elements as possible from the materials she uses. "[Ancient] non-Western cultures strongly believed in using every part of an animal. In this practice, tribes were assured that they did not waste or dishonor the spirit of the animal; it was the ultimate honor to the chain of life," she says. "It was thought that teeth and claws carry the spirit of the animal within them, and when used in tribal dress, they would transfer this spiritual power to the wearer. When I find a piece that is over 150 years old, I am intrigued by its beauty, spirituality and history. I am honored to create something so powerful; a piece that is both respectful of our histories and mindful of its spiritual value; something that I believe is infinitely more precious than a diamond."

Manning, who is also known for frequently aligning with a variety of charities, also shared that she is opening a retail boutique this fall. “I’m a total hippie!” she laughs. “I envision it as a modern terrarium!”