The trend of polymer jewellery took off during the last year, but Marion Mendoza has always been one step ahead of the game. She founded Prairie Poly in 2018 as a side job and sells handmade jewelry at markets across the city.
“I was going through a really stressful time in my life and wanted to do something with my hands,” says Mendoza. “I had always been interested in working with clay but never really had the confidence to even try, and then I thought, ‘why not give it a try?’”
Mendoza started selling her jewellery at various markets across the city including The Night Market and The Royal Bison Art and Craft Fair. There were a few other artists making polymer jewellery at the time, so Mendoza worked hard to advance her skills. Her earrings feature intricate designs that take hours to perfect. Many of her pieces feature colourful floral patterns, however, her best-selling pieces are inspired by the prairies.
“I had just come back from a road trip and I remember looking at the sky and thinking that the one thing I’ve always loved about living on the prairies is the landscape. Although it’s so flat, it is just so beautiful,” says Mendoza.
Prairie Poly accessories are sold at Tix on the Square .
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