Despite how many hours of work go into my pieces, The Merry Maenad is like playtime for me. Every piece is one of a kind and created with an instinctual spontaneity. Each element I use – whether handmade tribal, modern fabric or vintage trim – has some quality to it that resonates with my overall aesthetic. Maybe it’s how a vintage rhinestone belt buckle catches the light, or the way a chain drape moves while dancing. I play with various bits and baubles, looking for something that can synergize with other elements to become a distinctive and sophisticated final product.

The beauty of tribal fusion is its inherent uniqueness; it’s meant to look as if each piece combines traces of the dancer’s nomadic adventures. The Merry Maenad is known for its regal elegance, the collections of a timeless royal wanderer. My pieces have high quality craftsmanship and versatility. You can change them up to suit different performances, enabling you to have a wide range of possibilities with only a few items.

I’ve been making jewelry and costumes for 20 years, and listed my first items on Etsy in February 2012. What began as a means of teenage self expression has steadily grown into a process of mutual inspiration with my customers. They’re inspired by my pieces, and their integration of my pieces with their wardrobes inspires me to create more. I handle all aspects of the business myself, taking care to ensure that my customers receive a piece they’ll be proud to wear, from the initial design to the hand sewing to the secure packaging. I treat my customers like impatient friends: I speak kindly, I make the transaction as convenient as possible, and I ship fast. Who wants to wait to wear something you fell in love with?