Portland Jewelry Designers Focus on Upcycling

Transforming old or used materials into new and improved products is certainly not a new concept. No doubt you've seen Spoonman and his array of art and jewelry made from silverware at Saturday Market. But just stroll through any of Portland’s numerous art festivals, Northeast Alberta Street's Last Thursday event or Crafty Wonderland, and you’ll see reclaimed, reused, recycled materials resurrected as upcycled treasures.

Influenced by Portland’s DIY and craft-based culture, and by their own lifestyle activities (like cycling, gardening), previous or concurrent professions (photographer, architect, mechanic), many local jewelry designers search for supplies that can be reinvented as chic adornments. Thrift stores, gem and crystal suppliers, garage sales, job sites, nature walks all can, and do, offer inspiration and materials ready for new life.

From skateboard decks to camera lenses to used metals, here’s what some of our local jewelry designers are whipping up so we can be even more glamorous.

MapleXO: Jewelry Made from Skateboards

Photos courtesy of MapleXO

“The original recycled skateboard jewelry” from MapleXO grabs your attention immediately. Bright stripes and bold designs turn bracelets, earrings, belt buckles and rings into instant collector’s items. All crafted from recycled skateboard decks, no paint or designs are added since the original color schemes are enough to offer splashes of artistic style.

Find MapleXO at Radish Underground in Downtown.

Sword + Fern: Sustainable With a Natural Heart

Photos courtesy of Sword + Fern

Entrepreneur Emily Baker’s many influences magically appear in the divine creations she makes and sells at her East Burnside shop Sword + Fern. She uses natural and unnatural found objects like shells, gems, recycled glass and metal, driftwood, car parts, leather—anything she can get her hands on—to create elegantly punk earrings and necklaces.

Collaborations in Repurposing

Photos courtesy of betsy & iya jewelry and Focal Length Designs

betsy & iya jewelry and Focal Length Designs recently collaborated and showed their stuff to zillions of gleeful Crafty Wonderland attendees in early May. The results of their work emerged as fabulous handmade necklaces (and other pieces) created from vintage metal chains, reclaimed materials like keys and wire and camera lens parts.

Graphic designer Isaac Watson is the mad scientist behind Focal Length Designs with his sleek and unique bracelets made from found, broken SLR camera lenses. His motivation (aside from being inspired by photography) is to upcycle something unwanted into a differently beautiful piece that grabs attention. These bracelets most certainly do.

Some of the most inventive jewelry around, both designers received traffic and accolades at this year’s Crafty Wonderland event.

Redux: Outpost of Cool

One of the best places to find one-of-a-kind handmade presents made from recycled materials of various persuasion is Redux on East Burnside. The designers who showcase their wares at this mecca of all things repurposed embrace the whimsical reuse and upcyle it! sensibility. Favorite picks include wrist cuffs made from melted vinyl records, reclaimed belts and fabrics. There’s typewriter and Scrabble jewelry, rings made from keys, and bracelets made of fuses. If these notions intrigue, plan to spend some time here (though, beware: it’s dangerous territory, with so many amazingly artistic teasers from which to choose).

Re-Cycled Time: Mechanical Appeal

Photos courtesy of Elyse Bunkers

Artist/jeweler/metalsmith Elyse Bunkers has added a quirky line of jewelry to her repertoire. Re-Cycled Time is her custom collection of necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets that incorporate pieces of reclaimed clocks and watches, and bike tires. “Hidden beauty” juxtaposed with an industrial feel is what these pieces are all about. And, the bike tires is an added nod to Portland's favorite mode of transportation.

Find Bunkers' designs at Pin Me Apparel in Boise.

Small-Scale, Part-Time Designers Upcycle, Too

Photos courtesy of Toast Jewelry

Spend some time cruising Etsy for jewelry made from found, old, recycled materials and it won’t take but a minute before you come across plenty of Portland-based designers who rely on these key elements in their creations.

Toast Jewelry presents elegant, intricate leaf designs made from recycled silver and gold. Gift boxes are made from recycled paper and cardboard, too. dos noodles designer Katie Miller, who’s got a background in architecture, auto mechanics, engineering and electrical work, scrounges favorite school supplies outlets (like SCRAP) for fancy paper, wire, magazines, old photos and slides to create her line of inventive, lightweight earrings. “Making something new with a nod to retro-flair from vintage and recycled materials is what inspires my designs. This same sensibility is applied to other aspects of my life, as well.”

Photos courtesy of dos noodles

But making earrings out of recycled materials is not Miller’s day job, nor does she want it to be. Most who showcase their creations on the web, at street and holiday fairs or on consignment at small boutiques typically make jewelry for fun, merely as a side project, but not for a living. For many of these designers, recycling materials and using found objects for their homegrown pieces is the only way to go. And, for Portland-style fashionistas, wearing unique, handmade jewelry that has a conscience is the preferred way to go, too.