It began in 2019, in Vladivostok, a coastal city full of cold wind and warm hearts.
A kind Russian girl offered to drive us to the local market we longed to visit. Before we parted, she tied a colorful handmade bracelet around our wrist — “For luck,” she said with a smile.
We didn’t know then how meaningful that gesture would become.
For the next three years of the pandemic, while the world stood still, we kept traveling. From city to city, from coastlines to mountain paths, we continued our slow journey — and strangely, we stayed healthy, untouched by illness or fear. Perhaps, in some way, we really were protected by that small thread of blessing.
Later, we learned that the bracelet’s origin was in South America, a symbol of good fortune and friendship.
It felt right to carry that spirit forward — to make it part of what would become Manzanita: a brand born from wandering, connection, and gratitude.
Our story grew with every road taken — searching for hills above the clouds, ancient castles, hidden museums, and the legends of indigenous people whispered by the wind.
Sometimes, life gives us a turning point — a moment that strips away the unimportant and illuminates what truly matters.
For us, that moment was realizing that travel doesn’t need a plan.
No fixed routes, no strict schedules — only a heart that follows curiosity.
In that freedom, we found the most meaningful connections with local cultures, artisans, and strangers who became friends.
It was never about escaping. It was about belonging — and weaving stories of kindness, beauty, and shared humanity.
That same spirit is now carried in Manzanita’s jewelry — every piece a continuation of those moments.
Each bracelet is 100% handmade, woven with waxed waterproof cords, natural stone beads, Czech ceramics, and 925 silver, inspired by the mountains and oceans we’ve crossed.
No two are alike — each one is truly one of a kind, just like every journey.
You can wear them alone, layer them together, or gift them to a loved one — as a talisman of blessing and memory.
Each knot, each thread, carries the story of people we met, paths we walked, and the freedom we felt.
We still remember that mountain trail:
“When we headed south, the crowd thinned at the summit.
We followed their footsteps down to the lake, where the world suddenly fell silent.
Over the next five days, we crossed hills, forests, small villages, and secret trails — walking over 100 kilometers.
We played the ukulele, shared laughter with strangers, and carried the spirit of freedom wherever we went.”
That spirit — curious, kind, and free — is what Manzanita stands for.
Every bracelet, every design, is a small story of travel and luck, handcrafted to accompany you on your own adventures.
Wherever you go, may you always find warmth, wonder, and the courage to keep walking toward the unknown —
because the future, like every journey, is full of hope.
—— Made in Place
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