ALICE HOWELLS
“I source all my materials from a wonderful local craft shop that’s a two minute walk from my flat - no long journeys for me. ”
— ALICE HOWELLS, FOUNDER & OWNER OF PINK MOON DESIGNS
We are always looking for small businesses, makers and collectors on the cutting edge. We love what Alice Howells is building with her brand Pink Moon Designs, making handmade statement earrings using locally sourced materials. We hope you enjoy our chat with her below!
What inspired you to start creating jewelry?
So I've always loved massive statement earrings, but have got really sensitive ears, so most shop-bought earrings would be too painful and heavy to wear. I started researching into lightweight earrings, and discovered polymer clay - a beautiful lightweight material that lends itself so well to creating earrings. I began making myself earrings about three years ago and quickly got obsessed, and before I knew it my own personal collection had grown WAY too big. Friends and family suggested I start selling my creations, and the rest is history! I think it was inevitable that I'd end up creating and making though; I've always been really creative and loved making things with my hands, whether it's sewing, painting, gardening or just cooking.
How do you find yourself picking up on trends like the checkerboard print?
I've loved checkerboard for a long time - homeware designers like KJ Plumb and clothes brands like Paloma Wool have been long-time inspirations and print-crushes for me - my KJP prints in my studio flat are some of my favourite pieces of art. Then earlier this year when checkerboard print absolutely BLEW UP on Instagram it was great to see this dreamy print spreading across other mediums; from towels to cakes to everything in between. It's such a fun pattern that is just so joyful, and delivers a certain amount of retro nostalgia whilst also feeling fresh and contemporary. I love it!
Can you talk about what it’s like to be a small business owner and/or making all the product yourself?
I run Pink Moon alongside my full-time job as a marketing executive for a craft brewery, so for me it's a real creative release to get away from a computer screen - and work on my earring designs in my spare time. It can be a bit full on at times, as I'm in control of absolutely everything: jewellery designs, creation, photography, marketing, promotion, markets, e-commerce: the works. But it's so satisfying and so enjoyable. Nothing makes me happier than when customers send me photos of them rocking their new earrings. Such a wonderful feeling.
What is your overarching goal with Pink Moon Designs?
My goal is really simple - to make bold, colourful earrings that make you feel FABULOUS as soon as you pop them in. I really feel that there's a certain quiet confidence you get when you put on a killer pair of earrings - a bit like that feeling when you've got a beaut lipstick on or you've nailed your eye makeup. That's how I want people to feel when they wear Pink Moon earrings!
How did you choose to work with clay as a main material for your pieces? ( optional : Talk more about other materials you use and your production / sourcing practices )
Sustainability is really important to me at Pink Moon. I source all my materials from a wonderful local craft shop that's a two minute walk from my flat - no long journeys for me.
Anything you want potential customers to know about you / your products / business ? And/or any future projects we can look out for?
I've got SO many exciting new designs that are percolating around my brain, and I can't wait to get to work on them. There's a lot more checkerboard realness in the works! The shop is still open for orders over Christmas, but I'm having a break from dispatching, so the next postage drop will be the 4th January!
our subscribers will receive a 15% discount code to all earrings from Pink Moon Designs
