It feels good to buy local. It feels even better when buying local doesn't mean sacrificing style, because it's something we would buy no matter where it was made. Lucky for us, there are many jewelry designers in Dallas — and a few outside the city limits — who have turned their passions into wearable works of art.
These are the Lone Star jewelry designers who currently have us wrapped around their creative little fingers.
Blaine Bowen Jewelry
You may remember jewelry designer Blaine Muhl from her launch party at the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas. In addition to the Gameday bracelet she created for Seattle Seahawk Richard Sherman, the Kansas native recently collaborated with E! reality star Sydney Rae James (sister-in-law of the New York Jets' Eric Decker) on a new collection. But what we really love about Blaine Bowen Jewelry is the versatility: Pieces are available in a variety of price points, from an affordable $25 bracelet to a drop-dead-gorgeous $1,800 cuff. That's bling for every budget.
Chicks & Stones
Longtime Fort Worth besties Amber Lansing and Caitlin Denmark make jewelry in their spare time. Lansing is pursuing her CPA license; Denmark is a prosthetist. But after receiving multiple compliments on their handmade jewelry, they decided to give the small-business thing a go in 2013. The girls use stones and crystals in their raw, natural form, then wrap them in sterling silver or gold-filled wire. Cuffs are made from copper and brass. Pricing depends on the stones and metals used; as an example, the amethyst cuff pictured in the slideshow above is $120. The duo has been selling their creations at art shows, but they are excited for the launch of their e-commerce site next week. We've set our sights on these lapis beauties.
GAIA Empowered Women
These beaded bracelets may be stylish and affordable, but those are not the only reasons to buy. Each is handmade by Congolese refugee women who have recently been resettled in the Dallas area. Having endured over a decade in refugee camps, these women have faced unfathomable atrocities, and have lost many loved ones while fleeing a mass genocide. GAIA's mission is to empower refugee women through employment, encouragement and dedication to their long-term success in our local communities. You can find the bracelets at Five and Ten or online.
Nicola Bathie Jewelry
Nicola Bathie graduated from Texas Christian University in 2013 with an interior design degree, but she isn't your typical Texas girl. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Bathie lived in England and Michigan before ending up in San Antonio. She launched her jewelry business in January 2013 after two years of designing for fun. She uses beads acquired during her travels to Florence, South Africa, Dubai, Canada and France, and her designs are inspired by those travels as well as her adventurous spirit. Her jewelry is moderately priced, $100-$200. Some of our favorites include the green tassled Lizzie earrings and the royal, sparking Noel earrings.
Temple Street
Okay, so we expanded our search south to Houston for this one, but our sister site featured this accessory line because of its fresh perspective on shapes, metals and gold. Designer Ana Mae Holmes' passion is evident in all her pieces, which range in price from $150-$550 and include semi-precious stones dipped in 24-karat gold. Temple Street is now sold at Designer Jewelry Atelier in Snider Plaza.
Chicks & Stones amethyst cuff ($120).
Ice skaters showed off their moves in the "Central Park" rink.Photo by Ashley Gongora
The Kilgore Rangerettes channeled the Radio City Rockettes.Photo by Ashley Gongora
Dessert included a cake that looked like a blue Tiffany box.Photo by Michael Merry