OUR STORY

Wooden Element is a small Illinois based artisan company with a passion for fashion, creativity, and preserving nature. Our small family business is run by a husband-and-wife duo (Natalie & David), working closely with talent in our local community. We also collaborate with a few artisans.

We handcraft wooden jewelry & accessories for ladies and gentlemen. We believe in social impact and a portion of our sales support the Dream Center Peoria, Best Buddies International (IL Chapter), and Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) - Egbe Revitalization Project West Africa. We also support Aletheia School (Peoria, IL).

We also believe in sustainable fashion. In terms of environmental responsibility, we use Eco-friendly resins, ethically sourced and/or recycled natural wood, repurposed wood, and biodegradable materials whenever possible. 

We are proud to offer FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified sourced wood. We specialize in making Recycled Plastic and Biodegradable Cellulose Acetate sunglass frames. We also offer FDA and CE Certified Sunglasses. 

Our earrings feature a hypoallergenic Copper Alloy, and are Lead Free, Nickel Free, and Cadmium FreeWe also hand make PETA Approved Vegan cork jewelry & accessories. We utilize shipping/packing materials made from recycled paper. Wooden Element started in Wicker Park, Chicago, and eventually migrated to Central IL. We are now based in Peoria, IL. We aim to reinterpret classical fashion accessories and give them a modern wooden edge

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TEAM

Natalie Akerele: Creative Director & Operations. 

David Akerele: Digital Marketing & Business Development.

Selina Penarski: European Operations. 

Paris Solomon: European Marketing.

Amy Davis: Product Photography. 

Stefan IIic: Digital Content Production & Editing. 

Raag Parameswaran: Digital Content Development.

Laynie Zika: Sales Associate & Admin.

Juanita Shaw: Senior Sales Associate. 

Justine Szetela: Sales Associate & Retail Management.

Melissa Harper: Senior Sales Associate & Retail Management Team. 

Rick Martinez: Sales Associate. 

Kristen Hawthorne: Sales Associate.

Sam Van Dyken: Sales Manager- CA, AZ, CO, NV. 

Brian Eickhoff: Sales Manager- IN, CO.

 

Brand Ambassadors

 

Sydney Schnee: https://www.instagram.com/_sydneyschnee 

Rachel  Ann Jensen: https://instagram.com/rachelannjensen

 

Contact Information

Email: woodenelement2015@gmail.com

Number: +1 312-834-3060

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"GO AGAINST THE GRAIN.” 

Wooden Element strives to bring a creative and bold flare to the modern day fashion paradigm. Our products and accessories target individuals that value craftsmanship, ingenuity, and attention to detail. We provide a twist on classical fashion accessories that will ensure our clients stand out from the crowd. We go against the grain, and we do it in style! Thank you for your patronage.

 

The Modern Woman 

We aim to provide quality items that marry fashion with art. This fusion focuses on geometric constructs that utilize rare and vintage raw materials. We provide our clients with eye-catching finished products and accessories that are visually stunning. Our artisans take pride in their work and obsess over every detail from inception to completion. Our line of modern women’s accessories includes:

Wooden Clutches/Cross Body Bags

Wooden Handbags

Wooden Card Holder 

Wooden Sunglasses 

Wooden Glasses 

Wooden Watches 

Wood and Resin Earrings 

Wooden Rings  

Wooden Scarf Pin's 

Cork Bags 

Cork Bracelets 

Cork Rings 

Cork Necklaces 

 

The Modern Man 

We aim to provide men unique products that will ensure their professional and personal attire is enhanced in a complementary but non-overpowering manner. We provide a contemporary array of men’s products that by definition go against the grain:

Wooden Watches 

Wooden Rings

Wooden Sunglasses 

Wooden Glasses 

Wooden Bow Ties 

Wooden Lapel Flowers 

Wooden Wallets 

Wood/Resin Smart Wallets