A fashionable endeavour funding a literary folly
Good Magazine, 7 November 2024
A Fashionable Endeavour Funding A Literary Folly - Good Magazine
Our biggest style crush for summer is Cantermelon. Phone chains produced by the Wellington-based social enterprise that are as beautiful as they are functional.
Worn like a crossbody phone bag, as a phone necklace, or around your wrist like a mini phone-wallet or a phone-purse, they allow you to be hands-free!
Cantermelon founder Emily Makere Broadmore first came across phone chains on a trip to Paris in 2023. She kept seeing what she thought were tiny, chic handbags and after awkward enquiries in limited French, soon realised these decorative strappy sautoirs were actually resin cellphone chains, worn in lieu of a handbag. It was a tomber amoureux (falling in love) moment and it also sparked an idea.
As founder of the Wellington Writers’ Studio and editor/publisher of Folly (an eclectic anthology of lighter literary works of fiction, nonfiction and poetry by Wellington Writers’ Studio), Emily saw phone chains as the ‘perfect folly’ – a potential source of revenue for publishing projects.
“While blending fashion with arts and publishing may not seem obvious, the opportunity was there, and this ridiculous alignment with beauty and whimsy that is very Folly,” Emily explains. “If it fails, well that’s been a folly but it’s been fun. If it succeeds then we’ve found a way to support Folly and the team of artists and writers involved in this publication over the long term.”
Cantermelon phone chains are made to last with each finished with stainless steel hardware with an opening O-ring so you can attach your lanyard or keys.
“I love the point where design meets utility, and phone chains are just that. A fashion accessory that can be a thing of sumptuous beauty, but it should also be innately useful,” says Emily. “Plus it solves so many problems. Why were we all charging about with our phones clutched in our hands?”
Aiming to meld everyday practicality with artistic whimsy, each piece is inspired by the female artists and writers that inspire her, drawing upon feminine mystic power and creativity in every design which bears the name of an artist or writer.
A recent design is the Hariata greenstone phone chain, handmade in Wellington with local jewellery makers and designers and is a nod to New Zealand artist Hariata Ropata-Tangahoe.
Partnerships with artists and writers are also part of the ethos behind the social enterprise. The first collaboration with Rowan Taigel, a Nelson based poet, was a limited edition run of unique zines (handmade poetry books) which were included with Cantermelon purchases. They sold out quickly and a re-run is on the cards.
One hundred per cent owned and operated, Cantermelon works with makers overseas as well as locally to create bespoke and New Zealand inspired designs. Hand beaded designs are made in New Zealand for short runs only, mostly to order.
“Our items are designed to be more than just an accessory, they are a beautiful and practical everyday item designed to last in a world that moves too quickly,” says Emily who makes many of the chains herself and enjoys the meditative process of threading the beads.