HAZEL COX @ UNA

Saturday was my friend Hazel's homecoming jewelry show- her first back in Portland after a short but sad departure to San Francisco. It was held at and in collaboration with Una, the best and most unique women's clothing shop in Portland.


First I got a little preview of the work on Friday at Hazel's...


Then we headed out to my family's houseboat to burn some wood logs that would be used as table decor in the show.








My brother picked up one of these great God's eye pins... Hazel hand dyed the thread with Japanese dye typically used on kimonos.


I've kind of been obsessed with the imagery of feathers lately and I'm not sure why. I wish they meant something more to me than just being aesthetically interesting so I could get one tattooed or something haha. Hazel doesn't purchase any of the feathers used in her pieces, they're all found and stumbled upon the old fashioned way. That kind of thought behind the work I think adds a great deal of "soul" that comes across inexplicably in feeling, even when you don't know all of that.


One of the cool things about Hazel's work is that almost any piece can be worn by either women or men. They're not meant to be unisex, and she does make little detail adjustments that define a piece's intended wearer. But as you can see, the jewelry has an aesthetic that works for everyone. Women seem to be just as drawn to her more masculine pieces, and stories of guys stealing their girlfriend's Hazel Cox necklaces are known.




The wonderful Giovanna (in black), who we have to thank for Una.



http://www.una-myheartisfull.com/

Portland Mercury article - "The Return of Hazel Cox"