Interview & Hair Accessory Giveaway from Avamarie of Cultured!

Hey loves!

You may have seen me rocking a spiked skully hat and a leopard turban quite often recently if you follow me on either of my Instagram accounts (@hgkww & @jaygray44). I snagged both of these dope items from the handmade accessory line Cultured. Today I’m sharing my interview with Avamarie, the creator of Cultured annnnnd she is sponsoring a giveaway so a few of you can rock Cultured too! Check out Avamarie’s interview & the giveaway below!

Introduce yourself!
Hi guys! ::waves hand frantically:: I’m Avamarie: curly-haired blasian from Brooklyn, graphic design student, dancer, lover, foodie, philanthropist, parkinson’s awareness enthusiast, fibromyalgia patient, hippie, blast in a glass, and the list goes on..

How did you start Cultured?
It was never about money– Cultured started when I realized that some of the pieces I was buying from NYC street vendors, I could make myself. It then turned into a way of taking my mind off of my health issues at the time. I was making bracelets for my friends and family, then people started buying them off my wrists, and the rest is history.

What sets you apart from other accessory lines?
I’ve realized other lines try to stay with what’s trending, and even in my personal life, keeping up with trends has never been my thing. I’m all about quality, sentimental value, and creating from the heart.

What inspired the name of your accessory line?
Cultured is a form of self-representation. My cultural background is a huge melting pot: my mother’s half Chinese, but was born and raised in Trinidad, so I grew up embracing every aspect of it. Besides that, I’ve always been a xenophile, researching different cultures I’ve never been exposed to. The differences in the food and their physical appearances always drew me in.

Who do you design your products for?
I definitely design with the natural woman in mind because I am natural myself, and the man that loves her for it. I think it’s very obvious where each piece created derives from, whether it be African or Asian influences. And there are a few unisex pieces– I’ve always liked a little masculinity in my wrist-wear.

Where do you get inspiration for new pieces from?
Literally, everywhere. Working in the fashion district helps, and I’ve always loved museums so I try visit different ones around the city whenever I get the opportunity. If I get just a whiff of something new regarding a different culture, I get extreme tunnel vision with research, then I put my own twist on it.

I have the Spiked Skully, which I LOVE & rock all the time…how did you come up with that design?
There’s this slouchy knitted hat I have that I’ll wear every chance I get. I’m actually wearing it right this second. After creating the spiked clutch, earrings, and ring, I thought about what else I could possibly spike. This day, of course I was wearing my hat; I caught a glimpse of my reflection and it just clicked.

What is your most popular item?
Definitely the bullets and chains earrings. No matter how many new pieces I create, these earrings will go, every time. Surprisingly, the spiked skully is a very close second.

Which item do you recommend for the stylish naturalista who wants to stand out?
The turban headbands were a hit right off the bat! I introduced a limited selection while vending at a natural hair event last summer, and rave reviews definitely too me by surprise. They’re available in a variety of prints, as well as solid colors. They can be dressed up or down, whether your hair is locked and long or you’re rocking a twa, the turban headbands are definitely a staple. Another piece the coco gold earrings. They’re made with wooden coco tusks, so it keeps the consistency of that natural element.

What is your favorite accessory that you have designed?
Where do I begin? I definitely can’t choose just one! One of my favorites would have to be the amethyst chunk bracelet, since it is my birthstone, and because of the amazing healing properties. Another is the spiked earring: it’s my go-to piece, and I feel like I can coordinate it with everything.

Where can we get our hands on some Cultured?
cisforcultured.etsy.com and you can follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @CisforCultured for all the latest updates and giveaways.

And now…it’s giveaway time! There will be four winners:

One person will win a Cultured turban & three people will win a Cultured braided headband!

The winners will be announced on Wednesday, February 6th! See how to enter below…good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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