Phreshly Squeezed

My idea of supporting local goods goes like this: I get ecstatic over Canadian designers being worn on New York streets, will go home to purchase specific items from Canadian stores (e.g. Aritzia), and buy my groceries from the farmer’s market. I could probably be a little more serious, but with that said, it’s no wonder that I can at least appreciate Honey Thistle – a new accessories line started by University of Toronto student Wei Xu.

With all her pieces being handmade, Wei is constantly creating and experimenting, which has resulted in several collections in spite of the fact that Honey Thistle was only founded this year. Much of the inspiration stems from an aim to be comfortable and practical, but also extends itself to other things, such as music lyrics, organic shapes and items, and children’s storybooks.

What do I personally think of the line? It’s cute and great for casual wear. I can definitely see Wei’s style in these pieces (i.e. it’s not a random array of jewelry), which is essential for anyone starting a line or brand. Also, take a look at some of the pieces and you have got to love the names of some of these items, because they are so appropriately labeled with pieces such as “Flight” and “Scattering Ice.” But I can also see for there to be room for improvement and elevation of the line. Using semi-precious stones in some of the pieces instead of plastic/glass beads could refine the line’s overall look and offer more to a collection in terms of product variation.

Currently, you can win Wei’s (until 10 November) jewelery, along with several other great steals, by entering the October giveaway hosted by Viva Woman. You can also view more of Wei’s pieces by heading over to her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/honeythistle

"Flight" – absolutely love the feather

"Paris, Je T'aime" – Shows off meticulous work and Wei's love for charms

"Peas" – cute bracelet, love the glass beads in this piece

Be sure to also become a fan of Honey Thistle on Facebook!

Images courtesy of Honey Thistle at Etsy

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