Calgary: Adorned, naturally

More often that not, jewellery tends to be an afterthought in my morning routine. I often push it aside, like brussell sprouts at a Thanksgiving dinner. Before I hit up dessert (in this case, a delicious pair of pumps), I quickly adorn myself with little thought or consideration. It recently occurred to me that I may have missed out on that whimsical fairy phase that most pre-pubescent girls go through. I have never considered diamonds to be my best friend. More like a great aunt, twice removed.

I was on a mission to find an inspirational piece to arouse my inner fashionista. With little dilly-dallying I made my way to AE3 (1005B-1 Street S.W., ae3.ca), a boutique overflowing with unique, eclectic jewellery. Owner, Ashley Allan escorted me to a large display case revealing the latest collection from Bauxo (bauxo.com), one of the many homegrown labels Allan proudly showcases at her store.

For me, not all that glitters is gold, so the handmade, artisanal accessories made from natural materials like black wood and sun-dried leather was perfect. Bauxo aims to take “raw, rugged elements” and turn them into something more refined (more or less what I try to do to myself every morning). The entrepreneurial seed was planted when two Edmonton women, Jeneen Gacek & Diana DeLuca, went backpacking in Southeast Asia and met a Javanese designer named Hariyono. The two joined forces with the talented artist and Bauxo was born. Their Declare bracelet (shown, $50) is made from 14-karat gold-plated brass and leather reclaimed from shoe factories.

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