Sweet Charleston Designs combines history, fashion in jewelry collection
The sweet grass baskets made in South Carolina’s Lowcountry fascinated Buxton and Manning several years ago, and as they learned more about the intricate craftsmanship that goes into each piece, they became passionate about raising awareness for the dying art.
“Most people don’t know how valuable each and every basket is, and how much work goes into them,” Manning said.
Buxton had always had a knack for design and creating beautiful things, and had the idea one day to use sweet grass weaving technique to make a bracelet out of her children’s air-dry clay. The concept worked in clay, and she and Manning took the prototype to a silversmith in the Raleigh, N.C., area, who agreed to give it a try.
The two women spent three years researching the jewelry market and talking to people in the industry before launching their first collection in 2009.
Sweet Charleston Designs pieces are made from sterling silver, gold and pearls using the same weaving techniques used in creating sweet grass baskets. Manning said it takes a silversmith one day to weave a single bracelet.
