USD Magazine Summer 2014

To honor indigenous artists and traditions Eileen Lofgren ’11 (BA) is an artist, a humanitarian and a preserver of tradition. In less than a year, her Child of Wild website has brought a conscious aesthetic to her corner of the fashion industry. Both an art gallery and a source for jewelry of cultural relevance, the site is reinventing commerce as a

means to educate and elevate. Lofgren’s intricately beaded cow skulls share the spotlight with pewter Turkish collars, coral and turquoise Tibetan bangles, silver Hmong tribal necklaces, and more. Her mission? To connect each

piece to its cultural roots and artisan creators. She was deeply saddened by the careless imita- tion of cultural symbols she saw in commercial fashion accesso- ries with little regard for their significance. “That spawned a big pull to create a studied, researched site that gives authentic pieces recognition,” she says. Through Child of Wild, Lofgren brings credit to these artists and, in turn, a greater understanding of their heritage to an appreciative clientele. With more than 150,000 unique visitors in its first year — using new media to bring products to life — her site is a measure of the value of authenticity. And just like her artists and clients, she treasures the power and depth within each work of art she carries. “I believe my pieces literally have radiance,” explains Lofgren, as she slides on the silver Hmong warrior cuff that she wears every day. “If you are in tune with that, you feel it.” — Trisha J. Ratledge [www.childofwild.com]

22

USD MAGAZINE