KRISTEN ELSPETH

KRISTEN ELSPETH was founded by Echo Park-based jewelry designer Kristen Levy who got her first taste of design while learning Native American beadwork at the age of 10. Exploring the jewelry boxes of her mother and grandmother, she would rework broken jewelry into pieces for herself. This passion carried through into adulthood and in 2001 she began to grow a small collection of jewelry made of unique and unusual materials, which gained a loyal following.

The current collection’s minimalist and modern aesthetic is rooted in nature and draws inspiration from from indigenous reverie, honoring the African Porcupine. Kristen uses their quills to create some of the collection’s signature pieces. Porcupines shed their quills naturally, like hair, which are then carefully gathered and cleaned, leaving the animals completely unharmed. Porcupines and their quills represent trust, innocence, invincibility, intelligence, and are symbols of protection from dark spirits.

KRISTEN ELSPETH is available at these independent stores.