Hey there beautiful people,
We were interviewed by Japanese fashion web magazine FlashFilm.com – Check it out!
Q1 What was it like for you when you were growing up?
Sheanan: My mother was a buyer and a shopaholic so I grew up surrounded by fashion. I think the best thing about growing up was that my mom was also an accessory junkie so I had a ball playing dress up and learned at an early age the importance of adornment.
Cherise: I grew up in Texas with a family of fashionistas. At the very top of the fashion tree is my grandmother. Growing up she would share with me the importance of developing a unique aesthetic, always looking your very best and that accessories always complete the look. In southern circles in the US what you are wearing communicates a great deal about who you are.
Q2 Adha Zelma jewelry is amazingly powerful. How do you get the energy?
Sheanan: The power and energy comes from our ancestors, they were warriors, storytellers, healers and lovers. The energy cannot help but be passed on through the pieces by hands that created them.
Cherise: Yes it is from an ancestral tradition that Adha Zelma creates magic. What we create are pieces that seduce you. We believe jewelry is not just ornamental but also spiritual. We explore the many emotions that create one’s journey in life.
Q3 Could you describe your designing process?
Sheanan: I believe that adorning the body has the ability to enhance appearance, signal changes in social identity, and express culturally prescribed values.
My design philosophy is centered on bringing elements of traditionalism into the modern world while allowing spirit to flow organically through the designs. Sometimes there is an idea in mind and other times the designs manifest themselves.
Q4 How did you 2 (Sheanan Bond and Cherise TrahanMiller) turn the idea into a business?
Cherise: Sheanan had the opportunity to exhibit in a group show and needed some help selling the pieces. Like a lot of artists, Sheanan was very shy discussing her work. We had been close friends for years and I am jewelry fanatic and personal collector of Sheanan’s work agreed to come on board. We received such a tremendous response that the last night of the show we decided to form a partnership.
Q5 Do you usually wear jewelry? What are you wearing right now?
Sheanan: I usually wear jewelry. Right now I have 4 irregular sterling bands that I never take off, they were a gift, a small diamond in my nose and I am wearing an earring prototype of 24k Charlottes accented with Tourmaline, Citrine, Aventurine and Aquamarine but I think the earring should be longer.
Cherise: Yes. Always. I don’t leave home without my engagement ring, wedding band and Adha Zelma. I am really into mixing unique pieces. Today, I am wearing Moments from our Aria collection, a wire wrap bracelet featuring 18k square beads and a large ivory ring reclaimed from piano keys I found at a crafts market.
Q6 what fashion trends, if any, are influencing your jewelry?
Sheanan: I have been influenced by African and Native American beadwork, Brazil and Puerto Rico. Right now I am working on a new collection, which is been influenced by the Papau of New Guinea, Arthur Smith and Calder.
Cherise: I would say our aesthetic has less to do with trends and is more of an exploration of the what-ifs? What if we blended the past and present and met in the land of seduction?
Q7 Who is your customer and how do they find you?
Sheanan: Our customer is someone who is not afraid of attention, appreciates and understands the almost lost art of hand made art forms.
Cherise: The Adha Zelma woman is looking to tap her inner goddess. She is daring, and appreciates fashion as art. She buys what she likes and makes no qualms about it. She finds us via runway shows, editorial, blogs and press.
Q8 Do you have a mantra that you live or work by?
Sheanan: Well-behaved women rarely make history.
Q9 How do you see Adha Zelma in 5 years?
Cherise: We see Adha Zelma growing to cater to additional markets including men and children. Our future also includes developing an accessories line. We would like to expand our business across the US, South America, Asia and Europe.
Q10 How can someone in Japan buy your products?
You can purchase on-line at http://shop.adhazelma.com or contact us directly @ iwantmore@adhazelma.com.