Trending Above Branding Session | Alyssa
I found her on Instagram, as all good stories begin, by searching for local Chicago creatives that I could interview for an upcoming project that I'm working on and bam - up came this gorgeous light gold bangle that I couldn't stop staring at. It was made by Alyssa, the incredible designer behind the shop Trending Above; she designs all the gorgeous jewelry in the shop, and currently hand makes them all too - (imagine a kick-ass blonde with a blowtorch). I was blown away by her stunning and stylish work, and asked her to have coffee with me a few weeks ago because I wanted to get to know the new designer in town. :) We met at Bru in Wicker Park because as two fellow creatives, we both know how important it is to be at a good coffee shop to spur creativity and have good conversation with strangers! ;) While we drank our coffee by the windows she told me about her dreams of being a designer while in school for architecture and how she would draw her designs during class. By the end of the coffee date? My throat was scratchy from talking and listening to anything this amazing, talented boss lady had to tell me.
I ended up being lucky enough for Alyssa to ask me to photograph some of her designs around Wicker Park and I couldn't have been more excited - cause have you seen this stuff? It's seriously some of the cutest and most unique jewelry designs that I've seen! We spent the evening wandering around in the ridiculous humidity, with me feeling like I was constantly going to faint, and Alyssa looking cool and gorgeous as a cucumber (changed the saying a bit, but you get the gist). Basically the entire session we spent laughing - laughing at the awkward strangers walking past us who had lost their car, at trying to be punk and it not working out, and at how awkward it can be to be in front of a camera (which thankfully always makes it less awkward). I had SO much fun and by the end of the session, despite the heat and the exhaustion that comes with that, I came home and immediately started going through these babies because they were too gorgeous to wait.
Thanks again Alyssa for letting me spend the evening with you and photograph your beautiful designs! Also, y'all should check out her stuff on Trending Above - promise you won't regret it. :)
