Spotlight: Adina Mills
Los Angeles native and jewelry designer Adina Mills first began making wearable art after taking a sculpture class in college. But, she didn’t settle for a traditional material such as gold or silver. Instead, she chose clay and stones procured from mines around the country. “I had already been making jewelry for some time and have always loved the general idea of expressing oneself through adornment,” says Mills, who studied art history at University of California, Santa Barbara. “When I began working in this new medium, I was able to truly create an aesthetic that I had always envisioned but couldn’t execute. Once I was able to create the elaborate things I was picturing, it finally all fell into place. The rest, as they say, is history.”
For her one-of-a-kind statement pieces, Mills creates everything from large, chunky pink quartz rings with hand-painted clay bands, to vintage watch bands-turned-bracelets topped with green calcite, and large, lapis pendant necklaces. “The inspiration for my designs comes from an innate desire to frame organic elements in a way that heightens their rare beauty,” says Mills, who lives in Landers, a small town outside of Joshua Tree. “I also draw a lot of aesthetic inspiration from the Art Nouveau Period, as well as the 1960s and 1970s.”
She’s also recently debuted a couture extension of the brand, A+ By Adina Mills. “The collection takes it to another level with larger and more unique stones, an abundance of vintage chain, and really standout settings,” she adds. “Without sounding overly proud, the pieces can truly make an outfit.”
By Jennie Nunn
Pictured: Adina Mills
Photo Courtesy of Adina Mills
