Sierra Dew's eclectic upbringing is reflected in her designs. They have a little haute hippie chic, a touch of Greek mythology, a European sense of sophistication and the power and strength of a girl who knows who she is and what she's capable of doing. Her optimism and passion for life are evident in everything she creates.

The 24-year-old fashion and jewelry designer has roots in Pa'ia, Maui; Paros, Greece; and Florence, Italy. She grew up in Pa'ia, the daughter of the owners of iconic Mana Foods, Sunette Fenn and Edward Thielk. As a child and teenager, she spent her summers on the tiny Greek island of Paros.

She studied fashion and fiber arts at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa before taking off for Europe again, where she finished her studies at the Polimoda Fashion School in Florence. To apply her newfound fashion expertise, she took an internship with Betsey Johnson in New York before returning to Maui. She now lives between Pa'ia and Honolulu.

Dew decided she wanted to be a fashion designer during her home economics class in eighth grade at Kalama Intermediate School.

Inspired by nature and mythology, she strives to communicate "the beauty and design perfection found in nature ... the patterns found in natural shapes and shadow that blend the line between myth and realism, fairies and beautiful, strong women." It's a blending of the natural environment she loved growing up as a child in Pa'ia and the architecture and high fashion she came to admire in Italy.

EDGY ECO TEXTILES

Always open to experimentation, Dew has developed an original "graphite" stenciling technique to create her prints. Working with negative and positive space, reminiscent of the style of a graffiti artist, she hand-paints her designs onto fabric or leather, drawing in the finer details.

Her prints appear on organic cotton, sweatshop-free T-shirts and recycled denim. She often repurposes garments. For example, she took an American Apparel dress, cut it up and stitched it into a skirt. Or she may add a chiffon sleeve to a simple T-shirt.

There is a little mystery in each of Dew's designs.

"I try to make my art open to interpretation. I don't want them to think they have to see what I was thinking," Dew said while sipping a cappuccino in Cafe des Amis in Pa'ia.

Her debut collection, just being introduced into stores (see box) takes inspiration from "Egyptian and Native American cultural images, strong and powerful" as well as roosters, unicorns, 'opihi, dragon fish, fairies and owls.

In addition to clothing, Dew has applied her printing technique and hand-painting to leather handbags and skirts.

Dew also does freelance work. She is now designing for a dirt-bike and surf company based in Munich, Germany. Her women's line is called Siren, her men's line, Emerald. She made the connection through owner Olaf Crato, who spends a lot of time on Maui.

ACCESSORIES WITH ATTITUDE

Every Sierra Dew accessory is one of a kind. Her handbags are quite organic in shape.

"I don't know what I'm going to make in the beginning. Ideas evolve," she explained. She embellishes the hand-painted bags with European trims and vintage buttons.

Many of her jewelry pieces incorporate shells she collects on Maui beaches. Her approach to jewelry design is original and whimsical. One design combines a silver spiral with a puka shell, and she made it so they both spin around. The gestural aspect is reminiscent of the worry beads popular in Greece.

One of her newest pendants is her take on an Egyptian amulet. A pair of feathered earrings is decidedly Native American in its inspiration. She works in both gold and silver, depending on what she feels the piece "needs."

Trained in metalsmithing, Dew uses the lost-wax casting technique, molding wax to create metal designs. The designs are abstractions from nature. She often combines simple geometric shapes with elaborate abstractions in a single piece. Many of her jewelry pieces are unisex. They often look like mini sculptures.

Strength is a common theme in Dew's jewelry. "It's pretty, but cutting-edge at the same time," she said. "It's about beautiful and strong women."

In addition to launching her clothing and jewelry lines, Dew is planning a March 1 wedding to Brian Campbell, whom she has known since her years at UH-Manoa. The event will take place at the Haiku Mill on Maui. And yes, of course, she is designing her own wedding dress and jewelry.