At HOWL's Studio with Tini Courtney

© Pamela Wasabi / MFb

Sweet, smart and driven, thy name is Tini Courtney, a true believer and co-creator and designer of HOWL (short for Handle Only with Love), a boho jewelry line thats takes the dream catcher to inspired levels.

Tini recently invited me to her home studio and indulged me in jewelry lovemaking.

What are you wearing?

I got these boots at Nine West two years ago. This dress, my cousin gave it to me – no idea where she got it, I think she got it at a thrift store in New York.

What jewelry are you wearing and where did you get it?

I have one of my mom’s bracelets she got it when she was my age. I also got a bracelet from my friend’s company Lacey Ryan. My rings: This Indian chief head ring, my best friend gave it to me; the other ringsare from a thrift store in New York, like my gold finger casket ring. The silver chains are a present from my dad from Aspen. The rest of my bracelets are [from the] HOWL [line] and my necklaces are too.

How was HOWL born?

As far as the name HOWL it was something that I have always used for school, I used to tag all my drawings with that name. It’s an acronym for Handle Only with Love.

And as far as the story goes, five moths ago, I started making dream catchers. I had one friend visit me, she makes jewelry and got me inspired into doing my own. I collect stuff and used that as my materials just taking things apart or incorporating more things into something else, just doing my own version of things.

Then, one day Jason [Tini's boyfriend] and me just said f— it! let’s just start our own thing. He made the site [and] helped me out developing the concept and that’s how HOWL was born.

How did fashion fall into your path. Has it been something permanent in your life and is that why you decided to study fashion design?

I actually never envisioned growing up and being into fashion. After I graduated from school I moved to California just to explore, I didn’t know what to do. Then I came back to Miami. I thought about going to school for textile design since that is what my mom does. I started researching schools, found the Art Institute in Miami and went for it. Back then I was thinking more of having a bathing suit company if anything. But I don’t consider myself a fashion designer, I’m more of an artist, I’m very crafty and just love to do things with my hands.

© Pamela Wasabi / MFbWhat’s do you love the most about HOWL?

I can use anything for my materials – vintage or not; I reuse things and make something new with them. There is always something new to create.

The whole concept is based on mixing materials that I have gotten or were given or found from any place in the world. They all have a meaning behind it; sometimes I know about it and sometimes I don’t. All these pieces I create are like a destiny barrier. 

I also like how everyone is attracted to a different piece. Everyone finds originality into something different. I feel like that makes it true.

What’s the process to design a HOWL piece?

The truth is that I don’t even know what I want and that’s part of the magic. The materials inspire me. It all happens in the creation process. I don’t need sketches or flat drawings, I just go for it combining different pieces.

Do you find Miami to be a convenient city to launch your jewelry line?

I think Miami it’s coming up, people are starting to do things, or maybe I’m just more aware of it. But it’s a small market that I'd rather be where I can definitely make some impact, it’s definitely convenient. Miami is what it is, it has its own character. And being it my home since I was four (when I moved from New York), and through my networking and my nightlife connections; has helped received HOWL very well.

What are some of the close doors you’ve encountered?

Everything has been really smooth for us, everything has kind of come to us. But I think that it has to do with our hard work and drive to do things. People think that you have to hire a PR company to get your self out there, but you just need motivation. If you want to do something you can do it. And at the end, people are just attracted to our concept, it’s all made with love.