Three-Row Glass Bead Necklace in Navy, Mustard and White

• Three-row asymmetric design
• Hand-painted bead detailing
• Dimensional drape that doesn't lay flat
• S-hook closure

Each bead is individually hand-painted and shaped from recycled glass, so slight variations in color, pattern and bead form are part of the piece and no two necklaces are exactly alike.

Recycled glass beadmaking is one of Ghana's enduring craft industries. Broken bottles and discarded glass are collected, crushed and fired in clay molds, then hand-painted or powdered with color before a second firing sets the design. The technique turns waste glass into wearable color and has supported generations of bead makers.

The navy, mustard and white palette follows a graphic color-blocking common to Ghanaian beadwork, where hue and pattern are used deliberately to build rhythm along a strand. Layering rows of differently sized and shaped beads lets the maker play with scale and texture in a single piece rather than repeating one bead throughout.

Stringing an asymmetric, multi-row design is its own skill — balancing bead sizes and colors by eye so the rows fall in a way that reads effortless but is carefully considered.

• Technique: Ghanaian recycled glass beadmaking

Wipe the beads with a soft, dry cloth and store flat or hanging so the rows don't tangle. Keep away from water, lotion and perfume.