Every outfit needs a little pick-me-up! When your outfit is feeling a little drab, we usually turn to a bold statement piece of jewelry! Have you seen Maleku? If not, you should check this jewelry line out! Maleku has not been around for long, yet, this line is already turning heads all over the world. Runways from New York to Milan are featuring these one-of-a-kind designs!
Here is a biography of a designer that is going places fast, Ileana Rojas-Bennett:
While making stained glass panels in 2004, fledgling artist Ileana Rojas-Bennett (pictured left), daughter of a well-known Costa Rican painter, took yet another batch of fused dichroic glass from her kiln. While admiring her color patterns, she realized her striking color combinations reminded her of the hues found in the tropical Rain forests of her native country, Costa Rica. After choosing to turn the glass into wearable pendants, she decided upon setting them in sterling silver bezels, and thus began her journey as a jewelry maker, silversmith, and then goldsmith.
Pleased with the results, Ileana decided to base her work upon her color patterns, and sticking to her brightly colored theme, penned her by line “Jewelry Inspired by the Colors of the Rainforest”. Wanting to branch out, she began to offer her customers earrings and bracelets as well, which were also a big hit. Realizing she had found her niche, Ileana started her own jewelry business and named it after the extraordinarily artistic, yet rapidly disappearing Maleku Indians of Northern Costa Rica, from whom she is descended. As sales increased, she graciously decided to donate part proceeds from her sales to the Maleku Indians, to aid them in purchasing land and in building water lines and schools.
To create the total experience when wearing her jewelry, Ileana decided next to include the textures of her country to match the vivid colors, and began to work with raw gemstones, pearls, shells, crystals and trade beads. The response was so positive that Maleku Jewelry rapidly expanded and today is a highly sought after accessory item for the woman who simply will not settle for less. The Maleku line has also been chosen as adornments by numerous celebrities. Countless magazine and newspaper articles have been written featuring Ileana’s unique approach to her jewelry inspirations and to her generosity.
Maleku Jewelry offers hand-crafted and designed rings, necklaces, earrings, cuffs and sets at prices to meet every budget. Ileana’s flair for detail and craftsmanship can be found in each piece, which comes with a certificate of authenticity. At present, the Maleku line has been represented in the fashion weeks of New York, Miami and Boston with Milan in the future.
In 2010, Maleku won the Beyond the Runway Award in New York and then gifted the numerous artists in the backstage lounge at the Latin Grammys in Las Vegas. Recently she was interviewed live on CNN in Miami. As her once home-based business continues to grow, the future promises many more hours at her design table and work bench creating pieces for the next fashion season, but that’s okay with Ileana. When asking about her work load, Ileana’s famous reply is always “I love what I do”!
Ileana’s designs are sure to be a hit this season. You can pair these gorgeous statement pieces with any of your neutral sweaters or with your favorite little black dress to really make the outfit pop! Be sure to check out Ileana’s designs at www.malekujewelry.com! Model pictured to the left walks runway in an outfit by Zula Khramov and Maleku jewerly by Ileana Maria Rojas-Bennett, for the Zula Studio fashion show, at Nolcha Fashion Week Spring 2012.
Photography courtesy of: Ileana Rojas-Bennett for Maleku Jewelry
Kaitlin Vocker is a senior Marketing student at Louisiana Tech University, graduating November of 2011. In her spare time, Kaitlin enjoys being a freelance writer and a Marketing/Public Relations intern for Chic Galleria Publications, fashion in general, and spending time with her family, fiance, and friends. Her style icons are Rachel Zoe, Brigitte Bardot, and the Kardashian sisters. Visit her celebrity style blog at http://www.secretivestyle.wordpress.com or follow on Twitter @SecretiveStyle.
