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Continue ShoppingThese “Forever Lei” appeal to shoppers across the globe. By using thousands of glass beads, we reimagine traditional Hawaiian Lei to design one of a kind necklace lei. We also make custom pieces and enjoy adding a variety of fiber, sea-shells, gemstones, pearls, and lamp-work beads. Each structure or braid is made using at least eight cords woven on a Japanese Kumihimo wooden loom called a Marudai (丸大). 組紐
組紐 Our Hawaiian Glass Beaded Lei are unique handcrafted designs made using a Japanese braiding technique called "Kumihimo." We gain inspiration from the 'āina surrounding us on Maui. Akalei reimagines traditional Hawaiian Lei using a blend of fibers, shells, glass beads and anything beautiful to create our Forever Lei on a Marudai loom 丸大
Two-toned "Forbidden Island" Inspired Beaded Necklace -23" (Rare Beads)
We waited 5 years for these White Travertine Rizo beads to be made at a factory in Prague, Czech Republic. No other vendors have these bead combinations (shape/color), so we are delighted to offer this new braid with the two Earth toned Rizo beads. Imagine threading a grain of rice, that is the level of attention to detail required to create these necklaces.
There are approximately 800 of these tiny beads loaded onto 8 cords then woven so a two day project. This necklace is a smaller version of our #1 selling necklace the Metallic Brown with Yellow Picasso Dragon Scale beads, This was inspired by the Earth toned Ni'iHau segmented designs from the Hawaiian islands and is another unique offering from Akalei Designs. The necklace is finished with an acrylic magnetic (for a strong hold) for a combined length of 23".
Kumihimo is an ancient Japanese braid making technique that creates beautiful and strong interlaced cords. This art form goes back hundreds of years as braids were made for use in armor of Japanese samurai warriors. In modern times these braids are designed as belts (obijime) used on kimonos.
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