Six months ago, Erica Dunk began making glamorous jewelry for herself. Then the requests came pouring in. “All of a sudden people started saying, ‘Where did you get that necklace? I love it! Do you have a website?’”
She does now.
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After spending five years working in L.A. fashion, Dunk returned to St. Louis this year and launched Hyper Haute hyperhaute.com. The company sells affordable jewelry, from $10 to $100, with colorful rhinestones, popular pearls, and shattered bits of mirror. “My inspiration is a lot of different things,” she says. “I love recycling stuff. I love vintage looks. I love old Hollywood.”
Dunk hopes to expand soon with help from California-based friend and designer Julie Sines. Next month, she’s taking her wares to boutique owners along L.A.’s Melrose Avenue and Robertson Boulevard. With names like Rich Bitch ($60), Born in Bel Air ($70), and Hollywood Lock Down ($60), Hyper Haute’s brand seems custom-made for the neighborhood.
Her most popular necklaces include Diva ($60), a gold chain with four large mirrors, and Jennifer in Wonderland ($45), an over-the-top silver charm necklace with chain-wrapped mirrors and red pearls. “If you can really be creative with it and be avant-garde, that’s really my whole goal,” she says. Dunk also customizes any item upon request.
And be sure to look for her new line this fall. “There’s definitely going to be a lot more coming soon,” she says.
