Cape Cod Cicada Swarms made into Insect Jewelry
References: capecodonline & beadinggem
Two Cape Cod teenagers, Katheryn Maloney and Brady Cullinan, both 17, deserve to be acknowledged for their enterprising savvy and their unusual jewelry. They took advantage of swarms of cicada beetles which alighted on Cape Cod for the first time in 17 years. The dead bugs are collected by neighbourhood kids at 5 cents a bug. A win-win situation! The pair spend a whole day processing the beetles which are lacquered with shellac and decorated with beads, spray paint or food coloring. The wings are either left open or closed for design variation. The tricky part is piercing the resulting hard bodies to attach the wires.
Maloney and Cullinan have been selling successfully at their weekly local Farmer's Market and were even interviewed on tv. They plan to continue selling there whilst supplies last. Looking ahead, these budding entrepreneurs are also considering other invertebrates such as small horseshoe crab but Maloney draws the line at spiders.
Maloney and Cullinan have been selling successfully at their weekly local Farmer's Market and were even interviewed on tv. They plan to continue selling there whilst supplies last. Looking ahead, these budding entrepreneurs are also considering other invertebrates such as small horseshoe crab but Maloney draws the line at spiders.
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Fashion - The use of insects in jewelry highlights the potential for sustainable fashion trends using unconventional materials.
2. Circular Economy - Using dead insects as a raw material for jewelry demonstrates the potential for circular economy practices in the fashion industry.
3. Nature-inspired Accessories - The popularity of insect jewelry reflects a growing trend of nature-inspired accessories that appeal to eco-conscious consumers.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion and Accessories - The fashion and accessories industry can explore innovative ways to incorporate unconventional materials like insects into their designs, catering to eco-friendly consumers.
2. Sustainability - The sustainability industry can explore the use of insects as a sustainable alternative to traditional materials in various applications, including jewelry.
3. Entomology - The entomology industry can capitalize on the demand for insect-related products and services, such as providing ethically sourced insects for jewelry making.
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