Beaded Jewelry as a Political Statement

Moon & Milk is power, culture, and a movement. I am Alejandra Garcia, a Mexican American beading artist, and through my work, I weave the threads of my heritage into wearable art.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Money is power”, and I believe it’s true. We often forget just how much power we hold in our everyday choices: in what we buy, the posts we “like,” and the decisions that shape the world around us. We have the power to shape the world we live in by consciously choosing when to click the “buy” button (or should I say the "like" button?). If you have the privilege of having options, choose your local farmer, choose your local bookstore, choose public spaces, choose your independent artists, choose love. Choose stories of courage and freedom, and stop supporting businesses that keep perpetrating stories of exploitation and poverty. If you want to see change, stop looking around for solutions because it begins in your wallet. To buy handmade is to vote against exploitation with your wallet.

Handmade beadwork is art and culture preservation. Each pair of my beaded earrings carries intensive labor, patience, and the unequivocal fiery spirit of resistance. It’s slow (very slow lol). It’s intentional. Artisanal craftsmanship is radically human.

When you wear Moon & Milk, you're wearing the rebellion of a Mexican American woman reclaiming her story. You’re standing with the artists who refuse to be swallowed by the capitalist machine,  who insist that care, integrity, and cultural preservation still matter. You’re part of a larger movement that says: I am still here, and I am not for sale.

Supporting handcrafted jewelry means investing in social economies, creative independence, and most importantly, freedom. It’s choosing depth over hype. It’s saying no to exploitation and yes to community, dignity, and beauty that can’t be mass-produced. 

So yes, Moon & Milk’s handcrafted jewelry is political. Every fringe, every bead, every design is there to ignite that fire in you to fight for what you know in your heart is right, because we all know the personal is political. And when you wear them, you’re not just making a political statement, you're embracing everything worth living for: love.