Fashion
Size 16 Rings in the US | Interview with LGBTQ+ Owned Jewelry Brand, Nature’s Twist
Jul
As we speak, we’re excited to speak about Nature’s Twist, a model that carries as much as a size 16 rings in the US. For Delight Month, we’re celebrating manufacturers which can be LGBTQ+ AND plus/fats owned.
Which brings us to Nature’s Twist.
It’s our hope that by spotlighting manufacturers like Nature’s Twist, the TCF readers and neighborhood will present up in DROVES to help these manufacturers. LGBTQ+ hate crimes are on the rise in the US, and there’s growing violence towards LGBT+ folks in any respect ranges of society in the US (source).
I’m excited to share this interview with Megan Carlisle, who, collectively along with her husband, co-founded Nature’s Twist. You’ll be able to store Nature’s Twist at their retailer in Pike Place, Seattle (sure *THAT* Pike Place), on-line on their website, and through their very enjoyable Instagram Live Sales, held about each two weeks.
In at present’s piece, I speak with Megan about what inclusivity means to her, the “Rainbow Sluts” neighborhood that’s an intrinsic a part of Nature’s Twist, in addition to nerding out about jewellery.
Are you able to NERD OUT about this LGBTQ+ owned jewellery model? Let’s go!
How Megan & Alan Met
When speaking with Megan about Nature’s Twist, we had to return.
WAAAAAAY again — additional than even once they began.
I’m a sucker for a very good meet cute story (no disgrace!), and Megan was delighted to inform me their story.
“We really met on Craigslist,” she shared.
After which added with a little bit of a mischievous tone, “Alan had posted within the ‘Platonic Connections’ part.”
I used to be loving this story already!!
Megan and Alan met, spent the day collectively, and swiftly turned a pair. “I used to be not ready for a way cute he was in actual life,” she admitted.
How Nature’s Twist Received Its Begin
So now that we all know how this LGBTQ+ couple met, I used to be excited to find out about how they began a jewellery model.
“Alan and I needed to work for ourselves,” explains Megan. “I’ve labored in plus dimension style since I used to be 16, and I’ve all the time seen the shortage of high-quality jewellery accessible to fats babes. I needed to make a dimension inclusive jewellery model that was stunning. Not low-cost or quick style. I do know that I need to put on jewellery that makes me really feel particular, and I needed that for different fats babes.”
I do know that I need to put on jewellery that makes me really feel particular, and I needed that for different fats babes.
Megan Carlisle, Co-Founding father of Nature’s Twist
The Design Strategy of Nature’s Twist Items
Wanting on the stunning merchandise on the Nature’s Twist web site and Instagram, the influences of the Pacific Northwest is obvious. Megan and Alan superbly form jewellery to rejoice the pure form of the gemstone, enjoying with the distinction of hewn stone and metallic finishes.
Talking with Megan in regards to the stones, she shared stunning imagery about how items are made:
“We hand choose each single stone that we make our items out of. Each piece is handmade. We have now our hand on each piece from begin to end.” Megan went onto share: “The gems… they name to me from throughout the room.”
The gems… they name to me from throughout the room.
Megan Carlisle, Co-Founding father of Nature’s Twist
After deciding on the gems, it’s time to proceed the design course of. Megan and Alan use a mixture of electroplating and wire working abilities.
“We use a wire working abilities for our bases,” explains Megan. “Then we use a course of known as electroforming, which entails ‘constructing’ copper up onto a bit, utilizing a low voltage electrical present in an acid bathtub.
It requires a reasonably in depth information of chemistry and a number of apply, time and a spotlight.”
Provides Megan, “I wish to humble brag that Alan is absolutely good at electroforming. Lots of people get a really textured and darkish copper and crumble off. We delight ourselves on our items which can be the graceful and glossy. It appears to be like like liquid steel on the piece. Any electroformer would agree that is a perfect end.”
As well as, Nature’s Twist goes the additional mile.
“For items that contain plating, we plate at 10X business normal, the thickest they’ll plate, which makes the jewellery piece final for much longer. Plating is necessary as a result of jewellery rubs towards pores and skin.”
LGBTQ+ Inclusion
In addition to approaching inclusion from a dimension perspective (going as much as a size 16 in rings), Megan and Alan additionally rejoice their LGBTQ+ identification in different enjoyable methods.
For starter? All Nature’s Twist jewellery is for everybody. “All of our items are gender impartial,” shares Megan. “We don’t take a possible shopper or buyer’s gender under consideration when creating items.”
Additionally notable about that, is that Nature’s Twist jewelry pieces nonetheless have a selected viewpoint or aesthetic. As a member of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood myself, I’ll usually roll my eyes at a model’s efforts to make “Gender impartial” jewellery or clothes, making it shapeless or nearly blob-like.
Whereas I don’t need to yuck anybody’s yum, these items really feel boring to me.
Fortunately, Nature’s Twist doesn’t fall into that entice!
Rainbow Sluts – Nature’s Twist Neighborhood
Throughout our enjoyable speak, Megan referred to the “Rainbow Sluts” a number of occasions.
And, of COURSE, I used to be intrigued.
“Rainbow sluts are our core neighborhood, usually the individuals who come occasion with us throughout our Instagram Dwell gross sales,” shared Megan. “The title happened organically, as a result of members actually love our items that embody rainbows or a number of colours.”
The Nature’s Twist staff has even gone as far as to incorporate stickers and a solar catcher on their web site, all in celebration of “Rainbow Sluts”!
Intercourse constructive AND enjoyable!? Like it!!
Speaking with Megan, it was clear that the Instagram Live Sales actually are a blast, and a approach that Megan has constructed an in depth neighborhood.
“I actually join with Rainbow Sluts and prospects on 1:1 foundation. I think about a few of them my greatest associates. They have been prospects first, and {our relationships} simply grew over time. I’ve a distinct relationship with a number of my prospects — it feels bizarre to say ‘prospects’ — than most enterprise buyer relationships. I do know their households, companions, youngsters, I do know them personally.”
That friendship extends among the many rainbow sluts. “As a result of we do Instagram Dwell gross sales each 2 weeks, attendees grow to be associates and greatest associates. A few of them have by no means met IRL, they usually speak the entire time.”
Megan continues, “Because of this, I all the time advocate folks come to our dwell gross sales. I could be within the worst disappointment gap, and it’s a celebration with my greatest associates.”
Different Useful Information!!
To help the mission of ‘Nature Twist and their enterprise, I needed to share a few different nuggets of knowledge:
- Nature’s Twist ethically sources a majority of their stones. “I’m hesitant to say, ‘100% of stones are ethically sourced,’ as these stones are extracted from the earth. I’ll say that we get about 70% of our stones from a family-owned mine in Brazil, who we’ve an important relationship with. Their employees are paid a dwelling wage, and we’re proud to know one another’s households.” Extra on ethically sourcing could be discovered here.
- Nature’s Twist takes customized orders! “We do our customized work from January to April,” shared Megan. “That’s our slower season.”
- Unsure the place to start out? The preferred Nature’s Twist items are the Mountain Necklace and the Rain Cloud Necklace. “Many individuals have a number of Mountain Necklaces or Rain Cloud Necklaces. Every stone is exclusive, and our neighborhood actually loves these.”
What’s Coming Up for Nature’s Twist
I requested Megan for a sneak peek on what’s subsequent, and she or he was ecstatic to share:
“We’re bringing again our Swarovski items, that are extremely in style. We’re additionally excited to be doing an Introduction Calendar for later this yr.”
Wish to help this LGBT-owned jewellery model? Take a look at their items on-line on their web site, here, and you’ll want to be a part of them on Instagram for his or her Dwell Gross sales and exquisite imagery!
