Sometimes seeing red is a good thing. Like, for example, when you’re peeping Red Haute Jewelry, an ever-expanding line of vintage-inspired baubles by San Francisco designer Alison Rutherfurd. A busy mom of twin six-year-old boys, Bikram yoga devotee and avid supporter of the local fashion and arts community, Rutherfurd somehow found time to launch a selection of edgy new pieces just in time for the holidays.

Along with that welcome bit of news, know this: with the purchase of any Red Haute Jewelry necklace, you’ll receive a complimentary pair of earrings of your choosing now through Jan. 1. Also, a percentage of all sales will be donated to The Art of Yoga Project.

Read on for more on Rutherfurd’s latest, as well as her thoughts on motherhood, the local creative community and the dream project she hopes to unveil in the future.

What have you been working on lately? We hear you have a new collection out for the holidays.

For the holidays, I have designed a line that is inspired by a throwback to the 80′s: Glam Punk/Vintage Glamour. I am also designing and developing a larger “eco-conscious” line of jewelry where I am utilizing vintage materials, the use of re-purposed gold and sterling wires and chain, vintage glass, vintage brooches (specifically) for recycling, reusing, repurposing old jewelry into new and keeping the continuum of the story behind the vintage brooch alive.

What unusual or notable materials will be find in your jewelry and accessories? What makes them stand out?

14K gold, gold vermeil, sterling silver, faceted semi-precious stones,vintage glass, vintage brooches, faceted crystals, feathers.

When you’re not designing jewelry, what could we find you doing in your time off?

I work with a team of highly creative and driven individuals at a local home accessories store called Aldea. I also assisted in launching the off shoot store, Aldea Ninos. Both stores are
located in the up-and-coming, hip Mission District. I am a 10-year veteran of Bikram Yoga. This outlet keeps me centered spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I spend time with my highly active and vibrant 6-year-old-twin boys. They continually guide me (unbeknownst to them) to be grounded in the true importance of life (i.e. family, love, responsibility, accountability). I feel that childrens’ souls CHOOSE their parents, and there is a reason that I have been given twin boys. I love to socialize and spend time with friends. I think that community, mutual support and collaboration is what it is all about.

What’s your most treasured item of jewelry?

My grandmother’s vintage brooches (that I have stashed away) which, incidentally, have been the inspiration behind the “hunting around high-end vintage stores for stellar vintage brooches to be repurposed into modern necklaces” theme.

Where can we buy your work in SF?

Currently at RAG Co-op, Wonderland, and Lava 9. I’m also in the process of expanding into posh boutiques nation wide. With a list of 300+ boutiques throughout the nation, my goal is to be a brand that is well known within these fashion-savvy communities. After taking a 4-year hiatus to raise my twins, I am in the process of bringing RED Haute Jewelry back into the fold again.

What’s next for you?

Continuing to collaborate with local SF fashion and artist colleagues and friends to create events that are developed to support the local designers and economy. I love working with fellow designers and artisans and feel that community, team work and mutual support is the way to go. After all, as cliche as it sounds, we’re all in this together, regardless of your economic or social demographic and background. I also want to focus more on pulling in various charitable organizations into these events to give back to the community. With this community-based theme in mind, I have a dream/vision of having a shared warehouse/studio/creative space for jewelry and fashion designers, photographers, painters, etc., to come
together, a place to create (if one chooses to take a break from the typical artisan “solitary” creative space) and be in a creatively supportive environment. I’d like to call it The RED Haute Factory.

Alison Rutherfurd

Photography courtesy of Lens Exposure and Ed Jay for Alison Rutherfurd