Welcome! Thanks For Supporting Our Small Business at the Collective Underground. Scroll to Find the Woman Your Earrings are Named After. xo, Tayla

This pair of earrings is named after:  

The Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women 

4 in 5 native women experience something violent in their life. Native women are 2.5x more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted. Native women are 10x more likely to be murdered. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) is an epidemic and human rights crisis. This collection was made to raise awareness about MMIW.I encourage you to do your own research. A small portion of profit is going towards paying off supplies, but the rest will be donated. Thank you for supporting MMIW.

This pair of earrings is named after:

Amelia Earhart (1897 – 1937) 

This pair of earrings is named after:  

Maya was born in St. Louis, Missouri. At three years old, Maya’s parents separated. Maya lived between parents and grandparents for much of her childhood. When Maya was 8, she was sexually abused and raped by her mother’s boyfriend. He was in jail for a day and after being released, he was murdered. Maya felt like she was responsible for his death because she spoke up about the rape. This traumatic experience silenced her for years. Maya became a mother at 17 years old, married for several years, and divorced. Maya danced professionally, which would allow her opportunities to travel. Maya started her writing career in 1959. Soon after she met, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.  This sparked her interest in civil rights. In 1969, she published her most well-known autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Although she did not have a bachelor’s degree, Maya taught at universities. She spent her life writing, involved in politics and civil rights movements. Maya’s life and work has greatly changed perceptions of Black female writers. Her work is still revered today for its ability to open conversations about sexual assault, racism, patriarchy, and resilience.

Rachel Carson (1907 – 1964) 

Marie Curie  (1867-1934)  

Beatrix grew up observing and drawing animals, insects, and wildlife with her brother. Her first sketchbook came from her summer vacations at age eight. Like most women in the Victorian age, she received private education instead of going to university. She studied all things in science, except astronomy. She was always imaginative and combined her love for science with her imagination by illustrating children’s books. Beatrix self-published The Tales of Peter Rabbit and it immediately became a success. In her lifetime, she wrote over 60 books, with 23 children’s books. She was a remarkable businesswoman. She was the first author to license a fictional character and make stuffed toys and other merchandise off their characters. Her books live on today and are apart of many children’s childhoods. Beatrix was a sheep farmer and preservationist. She bought land to preserve them and after dying, she donated this land to the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty.  

This jewelry is named and inspired by:

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1656)

Artemisia was born in Rome and started painting at a young age. She was raised by her father after her mother died. As an artist, he took an interest mentoring her through young art career. When Artemisia was 18, she was raped. Artemisia, to preserve her social status and “virtue,” attempted to cultivate a relationship with her perpetrator and marry him. After finding out he was not serious about marrying her, Artemisia’s father pressed charges against Artemisia’s perpetrator, who was exiled from Rome, but it was never enforced. Following the trial, Artemisia got married and moved to Florence, which was pivotal for her artistic career. She was the first woman to be accepted by the local prestigious art school. Influenced by her life experiences, 94% of Artemisia’s artwork portrays women as the protagonist: courageous, powerful, strong. She went on to mother five children, four of which died before age 5. Her themes of female empowerment and loss, along with her pure talent and Caravaggio-like style, make her a feminist icon. Artemisia’s work and story still holds value and power today.

As we wear this Artemisia inspired jewelry, it is my hope we can reminisce and remember her life and influence on us today.

 

Jane grew up learning French, needlework, dance, and music with her sisters. She contracted typhus and nearly died. She wrote poems to keep herself occupied while recovering. At age 21, she started to write the manuscript for what would become Pride and Prejudice. Jane eventually published all her books anonymously. Her books are famous for her critique of female dependency on marriage and keeping a favorable social standing. Her social commentary, realism, and biting irony have earned her acclaim and criticism alike. Jane’s work became popular after her death. 

Lili'uokalani was born in Honolulu on the island of O'ahu to parents who were part of a nobility class of the Kingdom of Hawai'i. As a child she was baptized as a Christian and began attending The Royal School at the age of four. All of the children who were eligible for the throne attended The Royal School. There she learned many different subjects including music and composition. Her education there would later help her compose Aloha 'Oe. She often said that looked back on this time unfavorably because of the treatment of the children there. She was very passionate about the well-being of children. She and her husband never had biological children, but they adopted and took care of many children. After her brother died she became queen of the Kingdom of Hawai'i. During her reign she outwardly opposed the annexation of Hawai'i and fought for the restoration of voting power to the Native Hawaiian people. 

Mildred grew up in Virginia at a time where being African American and Native American held many obstacles. Mildred met her husband, Richard, a white man, in their teen years, got pregnant at 18, and decided to get married in Washington D.C. in January 1958. At the time, they didn’t realize their interracial marriage was illegal back home in Virginia. After returning home, they were arrested, pled guilty, and given the choice to move from Virginia for 25 years or serve one year in prison. They moved away from their hometown and families. Mildred collaborated with the ACLU and their lawsuit made it to the Supreme Court. Loving V. Virginia ruled in favor of Mildred and Richard in June 12, 1967. This ruling made interracial marriage legal in America on the basis of the equal protection clause in the 14th Amendment. Mildred and Richard moved back to their hometown, had two children together, and continued supporting the freedom to love for all.