Moonrise Jewelry
Photo by Shanaz Bowman
“It’s taking something that would otherwise be trashed, and making it something beautiful,” says Cape Charles-based Meredith Restein of her fish leather cuffs. Despite what may seem at first like an improbable combination, the brand’s bestselling bracelets are crafted from the skins of perch, carp and salmon, each with a distinct scale pattern—detritus from the canning industry. Once the scales are removed, the scale pocket (soft tissue located just under the scale, which helps a new scale form once an original is torn off) remains; it’s the leather of these pockets, produced in a Canadian tannery from fish harvested around the world, that encase the bracelet’s adjustable copper core. Some of Restein’s cuffs are embellished with silver, pearl or crystal, but we like them best when the fish leather speaks for itself. $49. MoonriseJewelry.com
See all the Made in Virginia 2014 Winners!
Style
Nordt Family Farm, Charles City
Moonrise Jewelry, Cape Charles
Awl Snap Leather Goods, Richmond
Home
Moore & Giles, Forest
Cricket Cove Soap, Glen Allen
Buckingham Slate Company, Arvonia
New Ravenna, Exmore
Fielding Archer Designs, Midlothian
Kala Studios, Arlington
Food
Rappahannock River Oysters, Topping
Red Truck Bakery, Warrenton
Pickled Silly, Richmond
Glass House Winery, Free Union
Willie Byrd Sauce, Richmond
La Vache Microcreamery Caramels, Charlottesville
FERIDIES 5 O’Clock Crunch, Courtland
Drink
Three Ships Coffee, Virginia Beach
Commonwealth Gin, James River Distillery, Richmond
1762 Port, Philip Carter Winery, Hume
Gingerbread Stout, Hardywood Brewery, Richmond
Sport
Latell Sails, Deltaville
Tad Coffin Saddles, Ruckersville
Goodpasture Knives, Ashland
