Ripcut Jewelry: Three Cheers for Birthday Crafting!

   Pride month in NYC is the best time of the year to be outside. On Thursday, June 18th, I went to an anniversary event for one of my favorite local jewelry businesses from Staten Island. Ripcut Jewelry is a black, trans, Staten Island owned handmade jewelry business run by Mercer from West Brighton. Their pieces are extremely cool, technical, unique, and were featured in a New York Fashion Week runway show just last year. The necklaces, ties, and earrings are instantly recognizable by their silver hardware and intricate detailing. When I saw the flyer posted on Instagram for the mass-crafting birthday party event, I knew I had to go. I set out to Brooklyn after being released from my bartending shift in the city, and I got there just in time for the tail end of the party.

Attendees customized their own ties using materials like pins, glue, and assorted beads.

     The Ripcut's 3rd birthday party was held at a bar called Purgatory, right on the edge of Ridgewood and Bushwick. It’s a small women-owned space with an outdoor section, multiple interior rooms, and a funky atmosphere. Mercer and their friends took up all of the rooms, setting up a different activity for each space.

Mercer (@ripcut.jewelry) being tattooed at the party by Roman (@moon_milkk)

There was a collage station, flash tattoos by Moon Milk (@moon_milkk on Instagram), and a setup where attendees could decorate their own tie, a standout seller of Ripcut Jewelry.

DJ Funkfox hitting that shit

DJ Funkfox played a two hour set for the crowd, where she stood at the deck while simultaneously getting her ankles tattooed. For those standing outside, there were picnic tables to hang out around and a man selling artisanal street pizza (technically he wasn’t a part of the gig, but still a great shout). 

     Em Casey from Staten Island Locals was able to catch this event earlier than I was, and she got to design a tie before the bar started to close. Eternally envious of this fact, I asked for her best take on her experience at the party. 

Ties designed by partygoers!

“It was a cool space with a nice community of people”, Emily says, “The charms and tie DIY was super cool. It was fun making stuff together, getting opinions, and seeing other people’s designs”. The tie-making station was settled on a folding table with various charms, pins, spikes, beads, and letters organized on paper plates, surrounded by benches and chairs for attendees. You could go edgy, dainty, horny, cute, or practically any direction you could think of with the wide array of decorations to pick from. Collaboration was encouraged, and many walked out of this party with a cool and unique favor made between new friends. Despite just catching the end of the birthday crafting event, I could feel the love for Mercer from the community he’s built through all of his hard work. 

If you are interested in buying a piece from Ripcut Jewelry, or meeting them at an in-person market, you can find their page of upcoming events here! Or, keep up to date with new content drops by following them on Instagram @ripcut.jewelry .

Photos taken by Jessie Marchovecchio.