Jewelry Designers in the Central US

The distinct styles of jewelry created by Misfit Stockists continue in our Holiday blog series, this time showcasing the talent in the central United States. Scroll down for a glimpse into the colourful, the mystical and the natural worlds of each brand. 

Dallas Maynard’s journey to her career as a jewelry designer is quite a charming one. She came from a family of female artists and entrepreneurs, and was raised by her grandparents in Kansas, who owned an antique home decor store. She took all the art classes her little Kansas highschool had to offer, but this was not enough to quench her thirst for art. Dallas found an art centre offering college credit classes, she took every one of those classes too, but the one she left for last was jewelry fabrication. Dallas formed a close connection with her jewelry teacher, another inspiring female entrepreneur, and found herself working in her shop that specializes in antique jewelry - a near and dear niche relating to her grandparents business.

Fast forward many years later, having a graduate gemologist accreditation from the GIA Carlsbad under her belt, and a relocation to Chicago, she now has a jewelry studio where she meets with clients for consultations. There is something about Dallas that allows her clients to open up to her on a great emotional level, which is why she has the belief that jewelry can be intimate and vulnerable. A jewelry consultation with Dallas will cover the backstories of why the piece of jewelry is being made, its symbolism and her client's vision.

Dallas relates grouping colourful gemstones together to painting a picture, bringing her back to her roots of art love. Over the last year she launched a large collection of engagement rings filled with vibrant sapphire and rose cut diamond clusters for Asrai Gardens, a department store with multiple locations. In the new year she will be continuing her focus on one of a kind engagement rings with diamonds and sapphires, as well as unisex bands. She is currently in the midst of a studio renovation, creating the perfect atmosphere to share with her clients in creating their mystical time capsules.  

Philadelphia based designer, Angela Monaco has built her brand based on ethos while maintaining a gorgeous aesthetic. Her retail space, turning one year this December, is designed to feel like a desert cave filled with mystic sparkle. The spiritual themes in her jewelry collections are made up of protective hand symbols, serpents, scorpios, and Mother Nature's own divine gemstone creations as centrepieces. Anyone who has high regard for Astrology and Tarot Cards will find Angela Monico’s work truly magnetic. If you’re looking to jazz up existing accessories, like maybe a hoop earring or one of the layers in your #NeckMess of chains, the shop has a huge selection of fun charms to choose from.

Angela practises conscientious jewelry production by use of recycled or fair-mined gold and ethical gemstones. Keeping the carbon footprint to a minimum, she reduces all production within a one mile radius of the shop's neighbourhood.

 Visit Angela Monaco’s shop at 2001 Walnut St, open Wednesday through Saturday.  

Johnny and Ashleigh Ninos are the founders and artists behind Ninos Studio. They met during their BFA program back in 2003, studying sculpture and painting. Their creative collaboration focuses on designing objects for the home, hand and wall. The gently muted colour palette recurse through each collection of objects.

 Nino’s jewelry line takes on organic shapes, with diamonds appearing like natural growths within yellow gold specimens. Montana sapphires left with rough surfaces are held tightly in the claws of unconventional rings. Earrings come in sets of two, three or four with bezel set diamond clusters. Necklaces of slider beads and fine chain make for interesting layering. Aside from the jewelry, the packaging that it goes into is an innovative and nicely designed body of work itself.

Ninos work is available for purchase at Esqueleto, in three locations across the US. Their full line is available directly from their website, where you can also connect with them for custom pieces.