Go global with multicultural styles and accessories
By Melissa Magsaysay, Los Angeles Times staff writer
On the spring/summer runways, its common to see designers weaving in touches of globe-trotting glamour. Nicole Miller, Etro and Anna Sui all soaked up a worlds worth of influences for their 2009 lines, with pieces full of Indian embroidery, South American woven leather and brightly colored batik prints.
You can see those looks coming into the stores now, in casual street wear and chic accessories. But for an unfiltered take on the multicultural trend, you might want to look beyond the interpretations, beautiful as they are, and go straight to the source for accessories that add a down-to-earth appeal that looks organic and effortless.
Etro caftan, $1,450 at Etro, Beverly Hills; Berry Acai necklace, $35, from the Tribal Societé Artisans of Brazil collection, and Cote DIvoire cuff, $35, and Ivory Tagua bracelet, $22, both from the Artisans of Colombia collection, all at www.tribalsociete.com; Cost Plus World Market scarf worn as a headscarf, $14.99 at www.worldmarket.com.
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Making the hunt simple are a growing number of companies that are cultivating relationships with artisans all over the world to bring local products to well-curated websites and catalogs. Not only are prices lower than those of pieces re-created to look like the real thing, but sales also help support crafters and their communities.
Ann Taylor Loft top, $44.50 at www.anntaylorloft.com; Joes Jeans shorts, $148 at www.joesjeans.com; Etro bangles, $201 each at Etro, Beverly Hills; sakroots Eco Harmony Drawstring bag in Gingersnap, $89 at www.thesak.com; Tribal Societé Artisans of Ecuador Abigail turquoise necklace, $35 at www.tribalsociete.com; Linea Pelle belt, $200 at www.singer22.com.
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Tribal Societé, launched in March by Nicole Basabe and Alma Sloan, sells handmade accessories from South America, Southeast Asia and Africa, and the founders, who met in business school at New York University, seek out pieces that have a fashion-forward quality. Avid travelers, they would often return to Manhattan from their adventures wearing desirable pieces, and we realized that there was a lot of substantial product out there, but no proper channels, Basabe says. The Tribal Societé website (www.tribalsociete.com) stylishly merchandises products and lists each piece with its country of origin.
Nicole Miller dress, $410 at www.nicolemiller.com; Linea Pelle belt, $125 at www.lpcollection.com; sakroots Eco Harmony Crossbody in Ink to Azure Dip Dye, $44 at www.thesak.com; Egyptian Batik necklace, $35, Cote DIvoire Naturale bracelet, $35, and Cana Kira bracelet, $20, all from Tribal Societé Artisans of Colombia collection at www.tribalsociete.com.
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French and fishtail braids: A step-by-step guide (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Cost Plus World Market (w.worldmarket.com) is also a great source for pieces imported from around the world. There youll find colorful scarves from India and woven rattan tote bags from the Philippines that seem to make sense every summer.
Cost Plus World Market scarves, $14.99 at www.worldmarket.com.
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Numerous websites, including www.endless.com and www.ethicalsoles.ca, offer a line of shoes called soleRebels, woven sandals that can add an ethnic detail to a simple sundress or basic shorts and a T-shirt. Earthy and extremely lightweight for summer packing, the shoes are also eco-friendly (soles are made from recycled rubber tires) and help provide employment for the villagers of Zenabwork, Ethiopia, who make each pair by hand.
SoleRebels sandals, $34.95 at www.endless.com. (An earlier version of this caption incorrectly listed the price of the sandals as $19.95.)
MORE FASHION + BEAUTY NEWS:
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Matte nail polish: Proof that sheen doesn’t always shine
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French and fishtail braids: A step-by-step guide (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
These colorful and earthy accessories mix right in with high-end or contemporary items, and though they work right now, they can be styled for any season. All come with a deeper back story, and each piece, despite the low price, has a label with real cachet: original.
Photographs by Kirk McKoy, Los Angeles Times Styled by Melissa Magsaysay, Los Angeles Times Model: Dina, LA Models Hair and makeup by Amber Kern, Solo Artists
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The scarf, a summer essential
French and fishtail braids: A step-by-step guide
Necklaces, $35 (inside) and $20 (outside), from the Artisans of Ecuador collection at www.tribalsociete.com. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
