Stepping up Southwestern designs: New Mexico jewelry maker Relios and a handful of Native American designers have joined forces. The former wants to change the way we think about Southwestern jewelry designs, and the latter are looking for a creative outlet.

JCK's High-Volume Jeweler, November, 2002 by Heebner, Jennifer

A decade ago, Relios owners Bill and Carolyn Pollack began visiting the Santa Fe, N.M., Indian Market, an annual fair featuring hundreds of juried Native American artists. Eventually, the husband-and-wife team found what they were looking for--sophisticated Native American jewelry designs.

Today, Relios manufactures the jewelry designs of five Native American artists, including Roderick Tenorio. "Before we found Roderick, we worked with traders of Native American goods," says Bill. "But since their customers are always new [tourists], they didn't develop much new product." Consequently, Relios's former designs--silver and turquoise creations--resembled those of every other tourist shop in the Southwest.

But now, Relios's Native American lines...

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