Wednesday, September 30, 2009

7x7 Hot 20 Under 40


Call Rachael Mann and Mackenzie Burdick’s designs “trashy” and they’ll likely take it as a compliment. After all, the sisters behind the new San Francisco jewelry line Litter go to great lengths to unearth the heaps of vintage, recycled and discarded metal bits and chains that they use to handcraft their funky accessories. “We started out making weird things just for ourselves like headpieces made from nuts and bolts and other junkyard finds,” recalls Burdick, who lives in Cow Hollow, right by the Litter office. When friends took notice, they decided to do a local jewelry show where their headpieces sold out, inspiring them to sell their work on Etsy and eventually launch their own e-tail site.

In less than a year, Litter has been picked up by stores in New York and Los Angeles and featured in Elle and Harper’s Bazaar Asia, modeled on actress Lucy Liu.

Recently, an editor at Vogue, who’d first spotted their leg chains worn by a girl walking down the street in Paris, asked the Santa Cruz natives to accessorize designer Christian Cota’s off-venue runway show for New York Fashion Week.

Are the sisters digging their newfound fame? “We were in a bar in New York, and someone actually came up to us and asked, ‘Are you Litter?’ We were like, ‘Yes!’” says Mann. “It was our big celebrity moment!”

Stylist: Rachel Lena Esterline. Styling assistance: Sonie Hack. Hair + Makeup: Pircilla Pae and Alexia Ogle for Shu Uemura on Fillmore. On Mackenzie: Alexander Wang gold-and-black sequin dress ($1,800) and leather zip boot ($690) at Barneys New York, 415-268-3500. Litter shoe and leg jewelry, model’s own. On Rachel: Maison Martin Margiela leather-and-suede vest ($3,595) and Christian Louboutin black suede heels ($1,095) at Barneys New York. Litter leg jewelry, model’s own

11 comments:

InnyVinny said...

Congrats you guys!!!

Virginia de la Reynares said...

Wow, congrats on yet another article!
I can't wait for you to make more shoulder chains - absolutely gorgeous jewelry!

Anonymous said...

HOTT!! you girls are sexy!

Talika said...

Congrats! Litter is such an inspiration. Keep up the good work! xo

.:*aMbAr*:. said...

damn with your sexy legs!! Naww I love you guys too much. Maybe now that I have a job, I can save for some sexy leg porn jewelry.

Anonymous said...

You Girls are FAB!!!! Congrats on all of your accomplishments, and many more to come :D

xo

paula said...

HOTT!!!!!!!

Rachel Lena Esterline said...

i am so proud of you.

Coconuts and Coppertone said...

congratulations! you must be so stoked!
im kind of dying over this picture- so glamorous yet hysterical at the same time... it shows off (from what ive seen and read on your blog) your personalities in addition to fearless fashion sense... bravo bravo:)

MC's Closet said...

oh my goshh!! congratulations! :)

--caseyyyy
http://mcscloset.blogspot.com/

vacation rentals miami said...

Wow, this is great girls, congratulations! I really love it, it's so cool!