The Hatchet Women Collection from Kristen Dorsey.

I’ve been meaning to show you Kristen Dorsey’s Hatchet Women collection for months.

I loved these designs immediately: the collection is bold, distinctive, unique, strong, and beautiful. But for some reason, I just couldn’t figure out what I wanted to say about it.

I’ve finally realized what my writer’s block was about.

The reason that the Hatchet Women Collection is so remarkable is its historical inspiration and designer Kristen Dorsey’s connection to that history: a history that I don’t share. I can’t find the words to tell you about the Hatchet Women because it isn’t my story to tell.

Here’s the real world inspiration behind Kristen Dorsey’s Hatchet Women Collection, in the designer’s own words:

I was raised with stories about the courage of my matriarchs.

And I am strongest when I adorn myself with their symbols for I walk along a path made possible through their sacrifices and love.

In the 1730s, our southeastern homelands were under attack by French soldiers looking to take our resources, and harm our people.

However, they were stopped by Chickasaw women.  Armed with hatchets and skilled in combat, my unconquerable ancestors forced the French to retreat.

Like them, I seek to protect our culture and land for future generations.

Because they taught me that leaders are the ones who give the most, even if one must make sacrifices.

Blades of hatchets can only be forged with fire and force.

As I adorn myself each day, I channel the strength of my ancestors – the Hatchet Women.

Today we may wield knowledge instead of hatchets, however, we are no less fierce than our grandmothers.

Strengthened with the legacy of our history, and armed with the values of our culture,

We are the ancestors who will inspire future generations.”

You know I love stories about the badass women of history who helped carve out a path for the fierce feminists of today, and the Chickasaw Hatchet Women of the 1730’s are truly inspirational. They’re a reminder of the fact that women are powerful, fierce guardians of that which we love and we always have been.

Every piece in the Hatchet Women Collection blazes with strength: the designs’ subtle but decisive curves, their bold, decisive strokes of bright silver.

These aren’t just accessories, they’re talismans.

Some of the jewelry has figural hatchet motifs, other pieces represent different truths from the story of the Chickasaw Hatchet Women. Most pieces are available in sterling silver, and plated silver in rose gold or black rhodium.

Kristen Dorsey is also a supporter of the Buy Native Campaign, which is a great initiative worth reading about if you’re not familiar with it.

Want a closer look at the earrings from the first photo? I bet you do.

I love the elegance of the negative space here and the juxtaposition of the hatchet design with the swaying softness of the beaded gemstone strands.

That gradient of tourmaline beads makes me swoon! The rhodium plated and labradorite pair would go with everything. There’s one more style, but it’s already sold out.

If you need to have your world rocked a little further, you should check out the Hatchet Women Collection’s launch video.

For more designs by Kristen Dorsey, please visit her website. All images c/o Kristen Dorsey.