From inside our studio based in Chicago, every piece begins with a sketch pulled from dreams, instinct, and inspiration from the materials themselves.
Bones ethically sourced (post natural death), cleaned & whitened by hand
Antlers naturally shed, never hunted
Skin sheds collected from an animal after the shedding process ends
Leather taken from industry scraps, recycled
Misc. various elements sourced from scavenging, wether insect parts, teeth and more
Once collected, these materials undergo a process of cleaning, whitening, cutting, sanding, sealing, and in some cases, painting and resin preservation, all done slowly by hand, without shortcuts.
This isn't mass production.
And this way of working has meaning, not just for the wearer and the maker, but for the planet.
Why This Process Matters (to Earth, and to Us)
Fashion is one of the world’s largest polluters.
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Over 92 million tons of textile waste are produced each year.
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Fast fashion brands pump out hundreds of micro-collections annually, often stitched with synthetic fibers, plastic embellishments, and hidden toxicity (from production, and after a piece is retired).
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Processes like dyeing and finishing are responsible for over 20% of global industrial water pollution.
Every piece from Lost Adornments is crafted by hand, in small batches or made to order.
Minimal waste (any offcuts or broken pieces are reused in future designs)
Natural materials at least 90% used in fabrication and construction
Minimal Impact pieces made post natural death, metal is recycled,
This is what circular design looks like in jewelry.
"Artifacts from the lost, borrowed from the earth, made to return to dust"
Not just recycled, but resurrected.
Natural Materials = Minimal Impact.
Bone
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Naturally biodegradable
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Each piece is cleaned using non-toxic, small-batch processes
Shed Skins
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Collected post-molt (zero harm)
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Sealed with resin for longevity
Antler, Horn & Teeth
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Sourced after natural drop, collected from the forest floor
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These materials can last generations when cared for
Metals & Resins
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Metal scrap is reused and recycled, crafted into new pieces
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Resins are chosen based on low-VOC content
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Metals are virtually endlessly recyclable, able to be turned into something again and again
It’s about honoring the cycle of life with minimal interruption.
What It Means to Be Slow
“Slow fashion” has become a buzzword.
At Lost Adornments, it’s a practice.
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We don’t release collections by season, we release them when ready.
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We don’t overproduce, many pieces are one of one, or made in small batches.
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Every design is hand-proccessed, hand-made, and hand-finished.
- We are actively working to minimize our impacts as much as possible. There are limitations in a modern age, but we continually strive to learn new methods and test alternatives.
Waste Nothing: The Circular Craft
At The Labs, we save everything we can:
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Bone dust becomes pigment or texture...or something fed to the shop plants
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Broken pieces are reworked into new forms.
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Failed experiments become future relics.
There's minimal waste, just waiting.
Because Adornment Should Not Harm
In a time when every choice leaves a footprint,
We aim to walk lighter.
In a culture obsessed with the new,
We lean into the ancient.
In an industry built on extraction,
We offer something borrowed from the earth, with efforts to return again.
Welcome to Lost Adornments.
Where death becomes sacred things.
And sustainability isn’t just a promise...
It’s our entire process.
Dig through the Lost Adornments Collection to unearth pieces made from the earth, with the earth.
-The Labs at Lost Adornments
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