Whitney Derochemont has long dreamt of starting her own business creating something, and that dream came to fruition with the launch of The Palm Club this past September. The up-and-coming jewelry brand has cool-girl appeal, with her first collection, Cowrie Cowgirl, selling out quickly. The Hawai‘i Island-born designer started making jewelry in high school when she couldn’t find exactly what she wanted, and now makes her pieces from her home in Kona. “I pull a lot of my inspiration from my meditations and the colors and textures in nature,” explains Derochemont. “I try to stay really present when I’m creating as well. I pay attention to the way a shell feels in my hands or how the light hits a gemstone. The designs usually start as a feeling before they become something physical.” This eye for style is evident in the brand’s beaded cowrie bolos and the Cowrie Metal Wrap—a metal cowrie pendant strung on leather that can be worn as a necklace, belt, or accessory—must-haves that work for both casual and dressy island occasions. She hopes to expand The Palm Club soon to include a line of upcycled clothing, but has always envisioned a brand that is about more than just making things. “I hope to host community events for creatives and like-minded women who want to connect, grow, and make beautiful things together.”

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