Sunday column
The Most Gorgeous Dreamcatchers We’ve Ever Seen
Spoke Woven dreamcatchers are nothing like the mass-produced, faux-hippie decorations you might find elsewhere. These are genuine works of handmade art: enormous, ethereal, striking creations filled with symbolism and character. They are the kind of statement pieces that can become the centerpiece of an entire room.
Elowyn Hart
Desk editor
Editor’s note
The full column continues in quiet type below.
Section
Sunday Broadsheet
Spoke Woven dreamcatchers are nothing like the mass-produced, faux-hippie decorations you might find elsewhere. These are genuine works of handmade art: enormous, ethereal, striking creations filled with symbolism and character. They are the kind of statement pieces that can become the centerpiece of an entire room.
There may be countless Etsy shops offering dreamcatchers today, but Spoke Woven’s oversized creations are in an entirely different category. Their enormous, floating designs feel almost like visual expressions of hope and imagination. They are easily among the most beautiful dreamcatchers we have ever encountered.
Designers such as Pamela Love and Mara Hoffman have embraced, sold, and promoted Spoke Woven creations, helping the brand develop a dedicated following and almost cult-like status. It is easy to understand why they have become something we would happily add to a birthday, holiday, or Valentine’s Day wish list. Even photographs of these dreamcatchers can feel poetic, evoking ideas of renewal, new beginnings, and true love.
For those who prefer vegan designs, feather-free options are also possible. Although some of the examples feature feathers, the designs demonstrate how much creative flexibility is available. Different colours, combinations, materials, and styles can be incorporated to create a piece without using feathers.
Cristen Genga and the Beginning of Spoke Woven
Brooklyn-based artist Cristen Genga began creating custom dreamcatchers after making one for her close friend Pamela Love’s first Fashion Week presentation approximately five years earlier.
Genga recalls that the beginning of her journey came during an extremely difficult period in her life. She had lost her job and had essentially stopped believing in love, describing the experience as falling into a dark abyss. Her close friend Pamela Love encouraged her during that difficult time and helped restore her confidence simply by believing in her abilities.
Love asked Genga to create the largest dreamcatcher she could for her very first Fashion Week presentation at Milk Studios. Genga had never made a dreamcatcher before, so she had to teach herself how to construct one. With the help and encouragement of friends, along with a great deal of hard work, the project eventually developed into something much larger.
Since that first creation, Genga’s work has continued to evolve and transform through collaborations with many inspiring people. She credits Pamela Love as the person who gave the project its beginning and describes her dreamcatchers as guardian angels, reflecting the profound personal meaning behind the work.
Where to Find Spoke Woven Dreamcatchers
Spoke Woven pieces can be commissioned as custom creations by contacting the artist directly, while ready-made designs have also been available through ShopBop. The feathered versions shown in the original collection use naturally found feathers, so those particular designs are not vegan.
Spoke Woven has also collaborated with Mara Hoffman on feather-free dreamcatchers, providing an option for people who want the distinctive aesthetic without animal-derived feathers.
The brand’s Instagram account is also worth following for anyone interested in the work. It features photographs of the elaborate dreamcatchers in their new homes, offering a glimpse at how these large handmade pieces look once they become part of different interiors.
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