something for everyone

If you need a little boost today, take a trip to 85 and Isle. It’s hard to believe this brand, featuring playful and breezy handmade goods, came out of a stressful time in the designer’s life. In 2019,  Owner and Artist, Hera Alyssa Bethune, was battling postpartum depression. The stress of first-time motherhood hit hard. Through the challenges, Bethune found that diving into her creativity was a way to feel like herself again. 

“As not only a black woman, but a child of the Caribbean culture, depression is a four-letter word,” Bethune told BLK OCEANS. “Here I was drowning, barely keeping it together and too ashamed to tell anyone about it. I did end up seeking help, but other than speaking to a professional, one way I found some semblance of myself again was doing the things I always enjoyed, which was anything creative. I stumbled upon clay earrings one night and decided to try my hand at it.”

Long nights of creating designs while her newborn slept, led to the creation of an eclectic collection of handmade earrings that feel like they were baked under sunshine and joy. 

“I create things that can appeal to many tastes,” says Bethune. “The world is so huge. People are so varied and so are our tastes. Why not make something for everyone? Why not spark joy in as many people as you can? That’s what sets my brand apart. It’s a melting pot.”

The collections are available in limited quantities and some of Bethune’s bestselling creations include the Roxy earrings, or “new age robot” as she calls them, the seascape arches and the sunburst earrings which reflect her current love affair with the beach and thoughts of sunshine and sand.

In the coming months, Bethune plans on expanding her line of handmade, clay pieces to include  wall hangings, paintings and possibly some woven items as well. 

Follow 85 and Isle on Instagram for more.