Southern Exposure

Photo By: Michael T. Regan

by Kristina Weise

You may never get the chance to visit Colombian artist Maria Camilla Mesa’s boutique, but that doesn’t mean you can’t purchase the fruits of her labor. Mesa has been in business for more than 17 years and has her own store in Medellin, Colombia, where she diligently designs some of spring’s must-have pieces of jewelry. Mesa’s work includes chunky necklaces guaranteed to satisfy any appetite for amber. If you crave cooler hues, Mesa’s turquoise, soft-pink, yellow and white stones are sure to capture many envious eyes. Her bold use of color through beads and ribbons add sizzle add the perfect punch to the monotony of any old outfit.

Mesa exports her jewelry around the world to stores in Argentina, Puerto Rico and Chile, but her clientele in the States is beginning to boom thanks to her close friend and rep, Sylvia Campo, an interior designer from Mesa's native country. Only a few stores in the Philadelphia area carry her work, but the largest variety can be found exclusively at Doylestown's Chelsea. Owner Maura Hughes cannot keep up with the Mesa craze and needs to replenish her case at least once a week. "I order according to the season and the latest colors, but Mesa's jewelry is so versatile that I carry it all year-round," she says. Each handmade necklace comes in a set with matching earrings for $42. Says Hughes, "customers buy her designs for prom, holidays or to enhance their favorite T-shirt and jeans. They simply cannot pass up Mesa's accessories." We learned our lesson: Individuality paired with affordability is a rarity worth seeking this spring.

Chelsea, 18 N. Main St., Doylestown, 215-348-1296.