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CL Journal

Oaxaca, Weaving, and Cornelia Lively

Oaxaca, Weaving, and Cornelia Lively

Sometimes you take an unexpected path toward a beautiful new reality.  CL may have started with jewelry, but through the process of studying the factors we face in the business of fashion, a firm commitment to production of sustainable clothing and accessories for women was born. For us, nothing could be more important than including natural dyes, artisan works, and small run designs in our collections.  For this reason, we found ourselves headed to one of the most respected places in the world for authenticity and excellence in artisan textiles:  Oaxaca, Mexico.

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On Finding Your Tribe

On Finding Your Tribe
Finding your tribe is a gift, one that oftentimes is created by the magic of those connectors out there who love making introductions that have lasting impact.  For those of us who were asked to join the sustainability and fashion panel at TARRA Denver this month, a bit of that magic occurred, as a lovely group of hard working entrepreneurs found common ground, common hopes, and common inspiration. Continue reading

The Artisans

The Artisans

If asked about the “why” - or the joy -  behind Cornelia Lively, there would be more than one.   Most of all, my family and I have an equally shared love of handmade goods.  The feel, the look, the spirit of the work that is rendered by hand, all makes for a treasure.  The minds, beating hearts, hopes and visions, disappointments and challenges, and sheer, raw talent behind every piece we make - that is our why.   

Sitting down with the artisans who actually melt the silver, cut from a sheet of metal, or thread the impossibly massive loom ... they are the ones we want to hear from.  Will our designs work?  Will the designs honor the process itself?  What do you think would work best?  Look best?  That’s the beauty - our endless collaboration. That’s the why. 

And the good news?  We are just getting going.  Our team, despite Covid, despite delays and lack of needed materials, is as devoted as ever to their craft and their work.  They see that what they do is larger than just their own lives, for when they share their generationally learned talents with those of us in different lives, worlds, communities, they see a bridge is built... and that in and of itself is joy.  A pretty good "why". 

XO,

EH 

 

 

¨History has remembered the kings and warriors, because they destroyed,  art has remembered the people, because they created.¨

-William Morris 

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It all started in San Miguel.

It all started in San Miguel.

That is why we introduce Cornelia Lively in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a place some say is sheer magic. I would agree, as my time there in 1996 proved there may very well be a force field of creative good underneath the charming cobblestone streets. Perhaps the church bells awakening me each morning, blooming Jacaranda trees spilling purple shade over ochre walls…mariachis in the central garden at night…created a gravitational pull, but one thing was for certain, a spell was cast. My plan was to stay two weeks. I stayed a year.

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