No Products in the Cart
Photo: Wildlife Jewels at AltaSea Open House | Green Tourmaline the Sea Turtle Gown ©Azi
Had a fabulous time at the AltaSea open house showcasing exclusive Wildlife Jewels designs while helping to raise awareness about human's impact on the environment and highlighting the importance of protecting our oceans and our precious wildlife.
The featured designs
1- Wildlife Jewels Green Tourmaline the Sea Turtle Painting + Green Tourmaline the Sea Turtle lace Appliqué Cotton Bobbinet tulle Gown.
The painting takes inspiration from a precious sea turtle Azi encountered in Hawaii. The original art is painted on canvas. The exquisite gown is composed of eco-sustainable material including elegant and luxurious English cotton bobbinet and organic cotton satin. The gown design takes inspiration from the science fiction like colors and detailed patterns of sea life, kelp, sea stars, sea urchins, and sea turtles.
About the Story:
California coast Kelp is disappearing! Kelp need our help.
Over 800 marine species depend on Kelp. Gray whales shelter their young in kelp forests. The algae can also be used as biofuel, and when fed to cows dramatically cuts planet-warming methane emissions from their burps. National Geographic
Kelp in some parts of Southern California has been reduced by 75 percent over the past century mainly due to pollution and overfishing of species that protect kelp ecosystems. In addition, between 2014 and 2016, a marine heat wave wiped out more than 90 percent of the kelp cover along a 200-mile stretch of California’s north coast. Overfishing and pollution has killed off fish, abalone, and other marine animals along the Los Angeles Coast that either preyed on purple urchins or competed with them for habitat.
Purple sea urchins are usually kept in check by their main predator on California's North Coast: the sunflower sea star. The large sea star (also known as a starfish) has more than 20 arms and spans several feet across.
In 2013, sea star wasting disease spread across the West Coast, decimating all kinds of sea star populations. Sunflower sea stars began disappearing and are now listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. NPR.org
Now purple sea urchins are taking over and eating all the Kelp that is left.
Stay tuned for more information and photos of the completed gown!
2- Wildlife Jewels Pink Tourmaline the Pelican painting + dress.
Azi captured a photograph of this precious Pelican and combined it with her ocean surf acrylic painting on canvas. She then painted the Pelican and transformed the painting into fashion. The dress showcases this precious Pelican, it is composed of organic cotton and embellished with cotton black scalloped lace.
About the Story:
This new painting and collection is inspired by the natural beauty of an incredible brown pelican Azi met at the International Bird Rescue center in LA. Sadly this beautiful bird suffered severe wing injury caused by fishing hook entanglement. She has been going through physical therapy and treatments for several months.
Over 150,000 birds are injured or killed each year by fishing lines and fishing hooks. When a bird gets entangled in the fishing line, they go through a painful struggle. Birds suffer permanent damage to skin, feathers, muscles, nerves, and bones from the line as they fight to escape. Entangled birds are often entrapped and can't find food or escape from predators. Even the birds that are lucky enough to be rescued, they have a very low chance of survival. Fortunately this beautiful Pelican was lucky to be rescued by International Bird Rescue.
About AltaSea: "AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles is dedicated to accelerating scientific collaboration, advancing an emerging blue economy through business innovation and job creation, and inspiring the next generation, all for a more sustainable, just and equitable world." https://altasea.org/
About Wildlife Jewels: FashWand Wildlife Jewels® collection of fine art and fashion is designed to raise awareness and help protect wildlife. Wildlife Jewels was created by Azi to share the magical beauty of wildlife using innovative techniques inspired by beautiful patterns and colors of wildlife. Each wildlife painting is inspired by a unique wildlife and each wildlife resembles a unique gemstone. The collection includes rare and endangered wildlife such as the Asiatic cheetah and birds of paradise as well as local wildlife that are under threat from human caused issues such as oil spills, plastic pollution, fishing hooks, and so much more.
Photo: Wildlife Jewels Pink Tourmaline the Pelican & Fishing Hooks ©Azi
Photo: FashWand Sunflower Seastar, Sea Urchins and Kelp ©Azi
Photo: Beautiful Great Blue Herons at AltaSea ©Azi
Photo: A beautiful Western Gull at AltaSea ©Azi