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Today, we are excited to talk about Nature’s Twista brand that carries ring size 16 in the USA. For Pride Month, we celebrate the brands owned by LGBTQ+ AND plus/fat.
Which brings us to Nature’s Twist.
By highlighting brands like Nature’s Twist, we hope TCF readers and the community will show up at DROVES to support these brands. LGBTQ+ hate crimes are on the rise in the US, and there is increasing violence against LGBT+ people at all levels of society in the US (source).
I’m excited to share this interview with Megan Carlisle, who co-founded Nature’s Twist with her husband. you can shop Nature’s Twist At their store in Seattle, Pike Place (yes *IT* Pike Place), online at their site Web siteand when they’re having so much fun Instagram Live SalesIt is done approximately every two weeks.
In today’s article, I talk to Megan about what inclusivity means to her, research on the “Rainbow Sluts” community and gems that are an integral part of Nature’s Twist.
Are you ready to NERD OUT about this jewelery brand owned by LGBTQ+? Let’s go!
How Megan and Alan Met
Talking to Megan about Nature’s Twist, we had to go back.
WAAAAAY back – even further than they started.
I love a good cute dating story (don’t be shy!) and Megan was delighted to tell me their story.
“We actually met on Craigslist,” he shared.
Then he added in a slightly mischievous tone: “Alan shared a post in the ‘Platonic Connections’ section.”
I already loved this story!!
Megan and Alan met, spent the day together and soon became a couple. “I wasn’t prepared for how cute he was in real life,” she admitted.
How Nature’s Return Began
Now that we know how this LGBTQ+ couple met, I was excited to learn how they started a jewelry brand.
“Alan and I wanted to work for ourselves,” explains Megan. “I’ve been working in plus size fashion since I was 16 and have always noticed the lack of high-quality jewelry available to fat babies. I wanted to make a jewelry brand, including the body, which is beautiful. It’s not cheap or fast fashion. I know I want to wear jewelry that makes me feel special, and I wanted that for other fat chicks as well.”
I know I want to wear jewelry that makes me feel special, and I wanted it for other fat chicks too.
Megan Carlisle, Co-Founder of Nature’s Twist
The Design Process of Nature’s Twist Pieces
Looking at the beautiful products on Nature’s Twist website and Instagram, the influences of the Pacific Northwest are clear. Megan and Alan beautifully sculpt jewelry by playing with the contrast of sculpted stone and metallic finishes to celebrate the natural shape of the gemstone.
While talking to Megan about the stones, she shared beautiful images of how the pieces were made:
“We hand-select each stone we make our pieces, one by one. Every piece is handmade. We have hands on every piece from start to finish.” Megan continued to share: “Gemstones… they’re calling me from the other side of the room.”
Gemstones… they’re calling out to me from the other side of the room.
Megan Carlisle, Co-Founder of Nature’s Twist
Once you’ve chosen the gemstones, it’s time to continue the design process. Megan and Alan combine their electroplating and wire processing skills.
“We use a wire processing skill for our bases,” explains Megan. “We then use a process called electroforming, which involves ‘building’ the copper onto a piece using a low-voltage electric current in an acid bath.
It’s a pretty comprehensive knowledge of chemistry and requires a lot of practice, time, and attention.”
Megan adds: “I love to humbly brag that Alan is really good at electroforming. A lot of people take a very textured and dark copper and it’s crumbly. We’re proud of our smooth and shiny parts. It looks like liquid metal on the part. Any electroformer, that’s ideal. agrees that there is an ending.”
Additionally, Nature’s Twist goes the extra mile.
“For plated pieces, we coat them at the industry standard 10X the thickest they can coat, which allows the piece of jewelry to last much longer. Plated is important because jewelry rubs against the skin.”
LGBTQ+ Engagement
In addition to approaching inclusion from a dimensional perspective (a number 16 ring), Megan and Alan also celebrate their LGBTQ+ identity in other fun ways.
For a start? All Nature’s Twist jewelry is for everyone. “All of our pieces are gender-neutral,” Megan says. “We don’t consider a potential customer or the customer’s gender when creating the tracks.”
What is noteworthy in this regard, Nature’s Twist jewelery pieces still has a certain point of view or aesthetic. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I often roll my eyes at a brand’s efforts to make “gender-neutral” jewelry or clothing, making them misshapen or almost drop-like.
Although I don’t want to spoil anyone’s taste, these pieces seem boring to me.
Fortunately, Nature’s Twist does not fall into this trap!
Rainbow Sluts – Nature’s Twist Community
During our fun talk, Megan talked about “Rainbow Sluts” several times.
And of course it piqued my interest.
“Rainbow hookers are our core community, often the ones who party with us during our Instagram Live sales,” Megan shared. “The name came organically because the members really like our pieces that feature rainbows or multiple colors.”
Nature’s Twist team went so far as to include stickers and a suncatcher on their website to celebrate “Rainbow Sluts”!
Sex is positive AND fun!? I love him!!
While talking to Megan, Instagram Live Sales really a blast and a way for Megan to build a close community.
“I really connect with Rainbow Sluts and clients on a 1:1 basis. I see some of them as my best friends. They were clients first and our relationships have grown over time. I have a different relationship with many of my clients – ‘customer’ sounds weird – from most commercial client relationships. I know their children, I know them personally.”
This friendship extends between rainbow whores. “As we have Instagram Live sales every 2 weeks, attendees become friends and best friends. Some of them have never met IRL and they talk all the time.”
Megan continues, “This is why I always recommend people to come to our live sales. I could be in the worst pit of sadness and it’s a party with my best friends.
Other Useful Information!!
I wanted to share some more information to support the mission and work of ‘Nature Twist’:
- Nature’s Twist ethically sources most of its stones. “Since these stones are mined from the ground, I hesitate to say ‘100% of the stones are ethically sourced’. I will say that we get about 70% of our stones from a family mine in Brazil with whom we have a very good relationship. Their workers are paid minimum wage and we are proud to know each other’s families.” More information can be found on ethical sourcing Here.
- Nature’s Twist is taking special orders! “We do our custom work from January to April,” Megan said. “This is our slower season.”
- Not sure where to start? The most popular Nature’s Twist tracks, mountain necklace And Rain Cloud Necklace. “Many people have several Mountain Necklaces or Rain Cloud Necklaces. Each stone is unique and our community really loves them.”
What’s Coming for Nature’s Twist?
I asked Megan to take a look at what’s next and she was more than happy to share:
“We are bringing back our incredibly popular Swarovski pieces. We are also excited to prepare an Advent Calendar for this year.”
Want to support this LGBT jewelry brand? Browse their pieces online from their website, Hereand be sure to join them instA-gram For Live Sales and beautiful images!
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