A New York creative director by day, moonlighting as a jewellery designer by night, RAW Information Group’s Joe Chang’s first collection for brand Honest Joe all came about through sheer impulse.
After a long New York winter, Joe decided on creating something bright and earthy that pays homage to American Natives. Dreamcatcher and Sun Bangles were the first designs that worked with the beach bum, hippie vibe Joe craved so much in the dead of winter. With a series of timeless pieces that were not precious but totally adorable, Honest Joe was born.
The name Honest Joe comes after toying with the idea of a direct reference to his work with the name Injun Joe. “I wanted to have some sort of native American reference because I reference Native American symbols almost excessively!
Originally, I wanted to the line be called Injun Joe, like the fabulously nefarious character from the Adventures of Tom Sawyer, but I realized that the term ‘Injun’ can be seen as derogatory, that was the last thing I wanted,” Joe explains
His next collection will evoke summer even more than in this collection. “I want to acheive warmth from the sun and glowing colors that are glorious to look at,” he says.
Text > Retna Wooller
