I’ve discovered that when traveling through a foreign land – whether as far as Morocco or as close as the Southwest – it’s really easy to be inspired by local jewelry and crafts. In part because you’re on vacation, so EVERYTHING is awesome, but also because these things are truly beautiful and so different from anything you’ve ever seen. But I learned my lesson about being too enamored and over-buying “ethnic” accessories. While I love most of what I brought back from Morocco, there’s one bracelet I’ve never worn. At the time it seemed so amazing and beautiful, but once I got home it didn’t fit with anything else I had and felt cumbersome just to put on. So this time, in the midst of countless pieces of intricate jewelry and sumptuous textiles I limited myself to two Navajo-made pieces.
If you don’t have the opportunity to travel through the Southwest (although I highly recommend that you do), you can still find jewelry inspired by Native American culture and crafts. Some key elements are geometric shapes, etchings, and the use of stones (such as turquoise or jasper), arrowheads or feathers. In fact, a quick survey of Shopbop revealed several designs:
By Theodora & Callum; I didn’t really see any hand-crafted gold jewelry in the Southwest, but the shapes and stones capture the vibe.
By Luv Aj; arrowheads were definitely a common theme.
By Dream Collective; again, gold isn’t accurate, but the etching conveys the spirit.
By Elizabeth and James; shapes of feathers and quills are often used.
My advice to you: when traveling definitely buy a few special pieces that you love and that will remind you of your trip. But don’t go overboard and end up coming back with things that don’t fit into your lifestyle. And if you can’t take a vacation, you can still bring home something from another culture.
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