Luxury Fashion Magazine – The PEAK is excited to be featuring Maiko Makito, Managing Director and Co-Owner of Pearl FALCO. Frankly speaking, Maiko is shy but was happy to coordinate her pearl station necklace and earrings with the clothes she chose to wear, prepared in the studio of Singapore Press Holdings. Maiko prefers natural, comfortable, simple and elegant fashion and looks happy while enjoying this photo shoot, though Maiko admits to being nervous in front of a camera.
A Quiet Statement. The Muted Style of a 2nd Generation Luxury Pearl Jewelry Business Owner Speaks Volumes
With hair loosely tucked behind her ears and just a whisper of makeup on her face, Maiko Makito looks every bit the assured woman in charge. Pearl FALCO’s 2nd Generation Co-Owner admits to being a casual dresser, preferring comfort and simple elegance to outlandish fashion. Maiko’s quiet and subtle style speaks volumes.
The forest green blouse draped comfortably on her slender frame is in lovely contrast to her discreet pearl jewelry. Its cut is simple with an alluring sheen to the fabric – discernible through the Zoom window – reflecting the high luster of Akoya pearls from the waters of Ise Shima, Japan. Despite being an outfit for online meetings, Maiko’s ensemble portrays an all-feminine grace and the quiet confidence of a woman on a mission to bring her family’s 36-year-old business to the world.
The 44-year old forgoes contemporary fashion for pieces that last through different stages of life. Backpacking across continents during her college days, working in Singapore as an executive at a multinational company in 2005, having 2 children, and now Pearl FALCO’s Managing Director and Co-Owner.
Maiko’s penchant for the versatile and enduring is present in Pearl FALCO’s 4,000-piece design collection. As today’s fashion trends might favor oversized accessories adorned with oddly shaped pearls and objects, the Pearl FALCO brand remains true to its classical design ethos, highlighting the coordinated and perfect roundness and high luster of Akoya pearls. The pieces span elegant strands of uniformity sized orbs and delicate brooches featuring intricate filigree work. Each design is decidedly subtle while making its own unique statement
Maiko explains, “Each pearl undergoes at least 3,000 human interactions, from being cultivated in the waters of Ise Shima to being harvested, graded, and finally being crafted into luxury pearl jewelry. The pristine, calm waters off the coast of Ise Shima, along with the forested mountains connected to the sea by streams and rivers, have all contributed to the cultured pearl industry since 1906.
“However, Akoya pearl production in Ise Shima is rapidly declining because of climate change. Pollution and irregular ocean temperatures have wiped out 80 percent of Akoya oysters in the recent past. It should come as no surprise that I have become so much more aware of the importance of preserving nature as a result of my work in this industry.”
By choosing pieces that are everlasting in terms of both design and quality, Maiko helps to protect the environment by minimizing consumption. Pearl FALCO’s heirloom quality designs are meant to be passed on from one generation to the next. During our meeting, Makito wore a pearl station necklace and earrings passed down from her mother and grandmother.
Maiko noted, “Technological advancements might allow some jewelry to be made more quickly these days, still our artisans continue to craft each piece by hand to ensure that they should last more than one lifetime.”
Sartorial Selections
“Natural and Simple” is how Makito describes her style. At our shoot, she demonstrated how muted hues can make a statement as she matched a whimsical station necklace with pearls of different sizes with a long, black dress and rich camel cashmere coat.
100% Sustainably Made Pearl FALCO Station Necklaces
Below are a selection of some of Pearl FALCO’s most popular station necklace designs, suitable for a wide variety of occasions. We welcome you to reach out to us at your convenience to discuss station necklaces, other jewelry designs, a new jewelry design project, maybe a pearl jewelry makeover project or something entirely different, via our Pearl FALCO Custom Design Studio.
Our Pearl FALCO Jewelry is made with 100% Sustainably Cultivated Akoya Pearls from Ise Shima Japan. We think of luxury pearl jewelry as treasured lifetime gifts of love and gratitude for the important people in our lives, crafted to the highest standards, with today and tomorrow’s family members in mind. Whatever design ideas or questions you may have, please feel free to reach out to us via our Pearl FALCO Contact Page or email us at iseshima@pearlfalco.com. We are looking forward to hearing from you!
