Every great jewelry design has a great origin story, and our Ti Leaf Bangles are no exception. They’re one of Wings Hawaii’s most popular best-sellers, and for great reasons. Expertly handcrafted in our Haiku studio with reclaimed metals and real Hawaiian shells, these beautiful bangles are fun to collect, stack, and mix and match.
But do you know what makes ours uniquely different from any others you’ll find in Hawaii? It’s all thanks to the stalk of a Hawaiian Ti plant.
It was around 2006 when Wings founder Samantha Howard saw the bangle trend coming. “I remember coming home one night from Charley’s in Paia,” Sam recalls. “I said, ‘I am calling it now — bangles are the next big thing.’ Then the next W Magazine that came out was all about bangles.”
Wanting to make some of her own, Sam looked for anything she could to use to wrap the bracelet metal around. “I couldn’t afford a bracelet mandrel,” she says. “Then, I remembered I had a bunch of Ti leaf stalks that were cut down from the elementary school where I was working. Uncle gave me all of them to plant, and so I looked for one that was about the size of my wrist. I started hammering the metal on the stalk, which made the bracelet take on the most unique organic shape and movement. I loved it so much, I couldn’t wait to put it on. We still hammer every single bangle on that same stalk, because it’s not something you can just replicate.”
The exact same Ti leaf stalk!! To this day!! It’s just one reason these bangles are so special to us, just as how the Ti plant is so beloved in Hawaii – its leaves, stalks, and roots are used for lei making, medicinal purposes, cooking, hula garments, and hundreds of other uses. They’re also believed to hold divine power, ward off evil, and bring good fortune.
So, all because of this one wonderful Ti plant stalk from 20-something years ago, each Ti Leaf Bangle is truly one of a kind, thanks to its uniquely organic shape. We just love the natural, free-form feel of these handcrafted beauties.
They’re also universally flattering on everyone, with endless varieties to mix and match: plain, cone shell, single puka shell, triple puka shell, pink freshwater pearl, South Seas pearl, and Tahitian pearl. There are no rules when it comes to layering – simply pick your faves and pile them on. (And psst, we make Ti Leaf Rings too!)
Like all Wings Hawaii pieces, the Ti Leaf Bangle Bracelets are handcrafted with aloha by our small-but-mighty team of women in our Haiku, Maui studio. Samantha and Tara expertly craft each one using sterling silver, gold fill, and 14k solid yellow gold. Gold-filled metal is particularly difficult to work with, because it’s not solid all the way through. “You have to be extremely meticulous to keep the integrity of the metal,” Sam explains. “We have a very specific process that we use.”
They’ve mastered that process after almost 20 years of experience making them, “but that took years to work up to,” Sam says, “and many, many pieces were melted along the way.”
Sustainability is a huge priority for Wings Hawaii, so we always use reclaimed metals, and save every scrap for reusing. The shells on our Ti Leaf Bangles are mostly found by the Wings Hawaii team ourselves from our favorite Maui beaches. “We love shells and any opportunity to collect them,” Sam says. “We’re always looking any time we’re at the beach. Sometimes we get shells from friends who are collectors as well, but for the most part, we consider that to be the absolute best part of this job, and our original inspiration.”
And we also love, love, love wearing our Ti Leaf Bangles ourselves. “They are everyone’s favorites to wear,” Sam says. “I think each Wings girl here has her own perfect stack of bangles.” The versatility is unmatched, being equally chic as a simple everyday accessory, or stacked on for dressed-up glam.
So whether you’re seeking an authentically made-in-Hawaii gift, Maui souvenir, or to start your own collection, now is the perfect time to STALK UP (heh) on this beachy-chic essential. Build your own gorgeous stack of Ti Leaf Bangles at the Wings Hawaii boutique in Paia, and online at wingshawaii.com
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