Throughout my life, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to many beautiful places. Each destination never fails to take my breath away. The memories of those places and their unique colors of nature is something I never want to forget. From the bright, lively colors of the city market in Ecuador to the mysterious fog and majestic red towers of the Golden Gate Bridge, every memory takes me back to a time and place I will always cherish.

Those travel destinations are what inspired me to have the Byzantine Steps reflect the colors of the world. When I first began working on the Byzantine Steps, I was reminded of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and arriving at the legendary Sun Gate at sunrise. The breathtaking color combinations are a sight you can only truly experience first hand. And so, a theme was born.

Every Byzantine Step Kit reflects the colors found in Mother Nature’s pallet. Wearing a Byzantine Steps bracelet on your arm is akin to teleporting; every time you look at it, it takes you back to an adventure you’ve had or that you dream of having. As the artists of the Maille, we have the power to bring the dreams of all, and the colors of the world to life.

Red Beach
When you close your eyes and think of the word beach, a myriad of colors, smells, and sounds often fill our minds. But, for most people, the colors red, gray, and black are not among the colors we envision. That is unless you’ve made the trek to the largest wetland in the world—the Red Beach of Panjin, Liaoning, China. Blanketed by seepweed, the crimson-colored Suaeda carpets over 50 square miles with its magnificent flora. Weathered gray wooden boardwalks weave through the scarlet beach, creating the perfect place for the endangered Crown Cranes that call it home to perch. One visit to this breathtaking beach, and you’ll never think of beaches the same again.



Warsaw
Once referred to as the "Paris of the East", Warsaw, Poland is every bit as breathtaking and colorful as this new kit suggests. The buildings, storefronts, and unlimited charm is something to behold and represents a simpler time before the destruction and damage done in World War ll. Since then, many of the city streets, churches, and buildings were restored to their original form and proudly capture the charm and color palette of days gone by. Warsaw may have a gloomy past, but it has a very warm and bright future.



Autumn in New England
Autumn in New England signifies the change of seasons and the transition from summer to winter. And, of course, is most well known for the vibrancy of color and the never-ending palette of yellow, orange, and red color combinations that paint the landscape with picturesque beauty. Whenever we visit that part of the country, we can't wait to get back and now, we have an excuse to take it with us wherever we go.



Patagonia Marble Caves
The Marble Caves (also known as Cuevas de Mármol) are located in the Patagonian Andes, on a peninsula of SOLID marble. This unique geological formation sits in waters shared by both Argentina and Chile. Only accessible by boat, this wonder to behold boasts some of the most vivid and eye-catching blue, gray, and turquoise color combinations known to man. It's not the marble itself, but rather the dancing reflections created by light from the waters beneath. Now those colors can capture the light of your soul and let your colors shine.



Alpine Village
Stretching across the Austrian border, the stunningly beautiful Bavarian Alps stretch from the southeastern corner of Germany to Lake Constance. Nestled among the foothills is a small Alpine Village, surrounded by the idyllic scenery only the breathtaking natural divide can offer. On winter evenings, the snow-covered trees and paths reflect hues of purple, pink, and blue. Whether browsing the nearby German market or simply enjoying the quiet that comes with winter, there’s nowhere quite as beautiful to take in the fresh alpine air. I can never decide what I enjoy more—taking in the beauty of this paradise or hunting the markets for the perfect Black Forest cuckoo clock. Can I really only pick one clock per trip?



Chamarel
As the sun begins to rise over the Chamarel plain in the Rivière Noire District of south-western Mauritius, you may think your eyes are playing a trick on you. At first glance, you’d believe the hills are draped in shadows, but as you get closer, you see the shadows turn into vibrant shades of earthen meringue. Over the years, rains have carved away the earth to expose a multi-colored landscape. Vibrant hues of blues, purples, greens, yellows, and reds lie in rolling dunes across the plain, creating a lunar-like landscape like none you’ve seen before.

I hope you enjoy my interpretations of some of my favorite places and I look forward to seeing yours. What color palettes transport you back to a place or moment in time? I’m looking forward to hearing your stories and seeing those memories immortalized in your own Byzantine Steps.

~Edie