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Sinew jewelry
You might throw a raccoon tooth away, but Greg Mathes turns odd charms into beautiful jewelry.
What it is Sinew is a line of necklaces made from reclaimed materials made by 27-year-old Greg Mathes in his Humboldt Park apartment.
Who he is Mathes has a retail and fashion background (including stints as a personal shopper) but has always unofficially dabbled in design. Once he began wearing his creations, the ball really got rolling. When he made a charm necklace with an old ring, a piece of deer antler and an ivory tooth on a chain and wore it to his job at SHE Boutique, the other staff members loved it and placed orders for their own versions. When they started selling his pieces in the boutique about a year ago, the line officially was born.
What he makes Mathes focuses on necklaces because, as he says, “they’re easy to integrate into any wardrobe and are perfect pieces for everyday wear.” He scours estate sales, antique stores and flea markets searching for unique items (such as watch parts, rings, teeth, cicada wings and more) to incorporate into each one-of-a-kind design. The line was recently picked up by Wicker Park boutique Habit after Mathes visited the shop with a friend. Owner Lindsey Boland commented on the chain he was wearing, which was, naturally, one he made. “She asked me to bring some in, and I thought she’d only want to sell a couple of pieces, but she ended up taking everything I had with me,” he says. New necklaces (starting at around $120) from the line will debut in the store this week.
Why we like it Mixing odd and quirky items (bones, teeth) with more traditional bits (lockets, feathers and pendants) makes each piece stand out in an unusual, yet chic, way. Mathes ably incorporates unconventional items without succumbing to kitsch.
Where to find it Habit (1951 W Division St, 773-342-0093); SHE Boutique (438 Central Ave, Highland Park, 847-926-0150).
