Sticks & Stones Loves Its Bones
Gen Art's fashion presentation this Saturday night is stacked with fantastic under-the-radar brands — and indie jewelry brand Sticks & Stones is among our favorites slated to show.
The dark, nature-based collection, which is created from sustainable materials, was launched in 2009 by designer Stephan Alexander, jeweler Benjamin Posin and digital media designer Marc Ishida. Utilizing real fossils and bones, the prehistoric-inspired collection is a perfect match for sexy-tough ensembles this winter.
Two days before the brand's big debut, we chatted with Alexander about the origins of his animalistic collection:
Sticks & Stones designer Stephan Alexander.
Style Section L.A.: You've said that you grew up in an artistic household. How does that impact your current work?
I definitely have crisp memories of being awed by my mother’s Architectural Design magazines and sketch pads. It was sort of a natural thing to pick up. It started with trying to make things come to life in my drawings, and slowly moved into creating them physically as well.
How did Sticks & Stones come to be?
I approached my best friend and now business partner, Benjamin Posin, about making luxury wooden jewelry. He’s a gemologist and jeweler, so naturally I asked for his help. The first pieces that we created were very fragile and clunky, but interesting. We figured out ways to make them structurally sound, and used oils to protect them from the elements.
Around that time that we figured out a process, people began to inquire about purchasing them. Our close friend and now partner, Marc Ishida, had experience in digital arts and advertising, so we brought him on board to complete the team. I continued to pour out ideas, experiment with materials and build small collections. Ben designed processes for production and began sourcing our metal and gemstones, and Marc designed our website and our online presence. It’s perfect in that we all fill the gaps to complete an ideal skill set.
Tell us about the inspirations for your Spring 2012 collection.
Prehistoric and extinct animal bones and teeth. Gold leaf. Fire engine red. Reclaimed exotic wood. The place where beauty and grotesque merge.
What materials were you drawn to?
Fossils from numerous extinct species. Fossil Manatee teeth, Woolly Mammoth and Walrus ivory, Japanese vintage enameled chain, 24k gold leaf, fossilized alligator teeth and fossilized deer antler. I don’t know when it happened exactly, but I have become obsessed with prehistoric animals and the stories that they left for us. With a bit of research and some phone calls, I was able to get my hands on some Woolly Mammoth ivory that had been dredged from the sea floor off the coast of Rotterdam, Holland. Materials that tell deep stories and have a history that out-dates me seem to hold my interest.
I must add that the fossils that we are using in the collection have virtually no relevance to the scientific community at this point and have been studied in great depth. Sustainability comes before design for us.
What is the retail price of the spring collection?
There is quite a range. Our pieces start at about $60 and exceed $4,000. We have something for everyone.
Who is your typical customer?
Due to the range in our price, we have a very broad clientele. Neiman Marcus sells our cufflinks and tiebars, but we also have bracelets that are perfect for the more casual individual. I guess the commonality in our customer would be an interest in unusual and beautiful materials. Also, a unique personal style and an appreciation for solid handcraftsmanship.
Which designers and style icons have impacted you and why?
Right now I’d have to say that Mr. Tisci at Givenchy is my style icon. He is doing cast Megalodon tooth pendants for Spring 2012, and we released real Megalodon pendants last season. His collection is as fresh as ever, and I’m definitely a fan of the shark teeth.