We are thrilled to have added our newest jewelry line to the shop, Ursa Major.
Ursa Major jewelry was was started in NYC by designer Kate Jones in 2009. And she’ll soon be relocating to the SF Bay! All jewelry is handmade in house using the most careful eye and finest materials. Ursa Major is designed to be contemporary, yet timeless- subtle, yet distinct. Welcome to the shop, Ursa Major!
We are thrilled to be featured on PureWow today- thanks for the love!
photograph by PureWow
You can read the full article here:
www.PureWow.com
Our popular Cleopatra ring is now available in a new mini size!
Featuring .25ct rose cut center diamonds flanked by matching .10ct trilion cut diamonds
Available in 18k rose or yellow gold
$1800
The perfect size at the perfect price!
mini Cleopatra rings in 18k rose and yellow gold with black and white diamonds
We are thrilled to have our very own Lauren Wolf featured in Refinery29 today, as one of SF Bay’s “Tattooed Tastemakers.” The article also features our Temescal Alley neighbors and friends Brad Roberts, Maya Messoriano, and Allison Futeral. Congrats everybody, and thanks for the love Refinery29!
you can check out the full article here:
http://www.refinery29.com/cool-tattoos
photographs by Molly DeCoudreaux
This month’s featured designers are Brook Lane and Kirby McKenzie, the very cool duo behind Oakland’s Job & Boss. They share not only their process and inspirations with us, but also provide a definitive guide to the best Asian eateries in the East Bay!
Kirby: I have been sewing and designing clothes since I was a kid. I ended up at CCA as an individualized major, which allowed me to fuse all of my design interests with studio art practices. The fusion of art and design has always been very important to me; I don’t think I could ever feel comfortable doing one without the other.
Brook: I grew up with a mother that was constantly designing and making things- toys, jewelry and clothing. I’ve been greatly influenced by her creative work ethic, which was part of my motivation for going to CCA to study film and photography. My zealous interest in the craft and cultural relevance of fashion, from vintage to contemporary, led to professional work as a stylist and photographer. All of these paths seemed to converge with the beginnings of Job & Boss.
Shibori Collection: Clothespin Scarf, Bomaki Clutch, Block Big Bag
The process of designing the bag silhouette starts with the need to fill a niche or scratch a creative itch. We brainstorm together by sharing inspiration references and sketching potential silhouettes. Then we create paper mock-ups of the patterns we want to develop. We refine the shape in paper form, asking ourselves: Is this functional? How can we streamline production? How can we make this as versatile and durable as possible without sacrificing the aesthetic? When have our final edit, Kirby translates the paper model into cloth and creates a master pattern for production.
The custom textiles that are featured in each collection are really what drive the line creatively, and each is developed in a different way. The Shibori collection was the result of a challenge we gave ourselves to try and make (and keep alive) our own indigo vat. We began experimenting with traditional folding and dying techniques and fell in love with the process. Brook has developed a standardized method of dying during production so our patterns can be a consistent as possible, but the process of initially creating those patterns is more free form.
Last summer, we took a trip to the city of Oaxaca in Mexico and were deeply inspired by the unique culture of this creative mecca. Local specialized artisans have been working in the same craft trade for generations, and we were able to collaborate with a master weaver named Alfredo Hernandez Orozco on the woven textiles featured in the Oaxaca collection. The resulting fabric combines traditional techniques with modern shapes and colors, and we are amazed at the results of what all three of us feel was a transformative experience.
In the next year or so we will be working on moving Job & Boss from just bags and accessories into something greater. This could mean branching out into apparel, incorporating other brands and alliances, or all of the above. On a design level, our future collections will continue to be textile focused; we are excited about doing some more experimental processes and trying a collection of one-offs.
Oaxaca Collection: Black & Gray Big Bag, Melon Clutch
Our day- First, drink coffee. Answer emails. Morning meetings with collaborators or store visits. More coffee. Back to the studio to post photos on Tumblagrambook and write more emails. Input new orders into Stitch. In the afternoon, we do studio work - folding and dying fabric and sewing to fill upcoming orders. Late lunch together to touch base about upcoming projects. Answer more emails, as they seem to have multiplied exponentially over the course of the day. More sewing and processing. Wash and dry. Repeat.
Our studio soundtrack- Savage Love Podcast keeps Kirby sane; Dan Savage is easily one of the least annoying people to listen to talk for hours on end. Brook is partial to the lyrical stylings of Nate Dogg.
Our inspirations-
Kirby: I get excited by anybody doing things differently and making their own way out of whatever they can. I wanna go places and meet these people.
Brook: Ranunculas, Swallow Magazine, Jessie Oonark, Uniform Exercises, and the term “salad days”
Binh Minh Quan, Ippuku, Kang Tong Degi, Phnom Penh House
THE JOB & BOSS GUIDE TO ASIAN FOOD SPOTS OF THE EAST BAY:
Vietnamese // Binh Minh Quan
1. Do it yourself spring rolls with the freshest ingredients
2. Bamboo-focused interior with a water feature
3. Coffee candy with the bill that sticks in your teeth
Japanese // Ippuku
1. Employees straight out of an editorial photoshoot
2. Heated toilets with a “water feature”
3. Dancing rabbits in the rest rooms
3. Perfect date spot- if your companion won’t try the chicken tartare it’s a no go
Korean // Kang Tong Degi
1. Open til 2am
2. Private booths
3. Unexpectedly hip & classy interior
4. Smoking inside after 12am makes you feel k-mob
5. Horrible fruity Soju cocktails
6. Translates to “Tin Pig” or maybe “Tin & Pig”
Cambodian // Phnom Penh House
1. You can eat an entire entree out of the inside of a fried fish
2. Perfect drab-classy interior with fun “krap dance” poster
3. Best for when you want to be quiet and well-behaved
Lauren Wolf Jewelry is featured in this month’s Lonny Magazine!
http://www.lonny.com/magazine/April+2013/uRqUAPwVlR6/1#10
We’re “mad” for the green gold sapphire claw ring as well. Thanks for the love, Lonny!
We are installing an exciting new exhibition by artist Llewelynn Fletcher today in the gallery space. Entitled (Trans)formation, the work features felt masks on steel and ash stands.
Please join us for the opening party this First Friday, April 5th, from 6-9pm!
Works on view April 5 - June 5
Artist’s reception May 3, 6-9pm
Llewellyn Fletcher, (Trans)Formation Mask: Wolf, 2013
We are thrilled about our latest addition to the shop. Stop in to check out these beautiful antique diamond rings.
There’s a great article about Esqueleto and the whole Temescal Alley in this month’s 7x7 Magazine, on newsstands now. Thanks for the love 7x7!
Wedding season is almost upon us….come in to check out all the new engagement rings and wedding bands from Lauren Wolf Jewelry!
