Slow, but make it fashion
Natalie Joy Jewelry creates sustainable, minimalist jewelry in Portland, Oregon.
Coco Chanel said, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.”
This is how jeweler Natalie Joy designs her minimalist pieces.
“I find minimalism endlessly fascinating whether it’s fine art, interior design, or a way of life,” she told The Glossary. “The amount of energy that can be packed into something so simple and (seemingly) straightforward inspires me. Because of this, my design process is also an editing process. I ask myself what is absolutely necessary to maintain the essence and feeling of this design? What can go?”
Each piece is hand crafted in a small, light-filled metals workshop in her backyard, and the 10 collections available on Natalie Joy Jewelry are the product of multiple sketchbooks filled with ideas. Drawing inspiration from paintings and textiles, her minimalist designs “tend toward the two-dimensional as far as construction.”
Using mixed metals, matte and shiny finishes, and sustainable materials, the company is dedicated to producing quality items that are part of the ‘slow fashion’ movement.
Having a healthy work-life balance while working out of her backyard is easier said than done but Joy is working on it while finding ways to fuel her creativity. Her limited edition releases are the perfect way for her to explore new concepts without the pressure to put the design into production.
As a small business owner based in Portland, Oregon, Joy has pushed through the challenges of keeping a business running, having a child, and living through a global pandemic. She approaches being a business owner how she would any creative endeavor.
Her journey from a ceramic and metals sculptor to full time jeweler spans many years and experiences, but one thing is for sure, her love of creation.
“For as long as I can remember I have been a tangible person with a strong desire to create objects with my hands. That urge has never left me; it just evolved through different mediums and outlets. Eventually I found a way to satisfy my desire to make sculpture in a purely wearable format.”
Explore the available collections on their website here and make sure to follow their journey on Instagram and TikTok @nataliejoyjewelry.
