WHEN GIVEN A BAG of high-quality leather samples—the kind big fashion houses like Louis Vuitton and Bottega Veneta use in making purses—Patience Pollock wondered what she could do with such small pieces. The waste that’s endemic to fast fashion inspired the Santa Fe artist, photographer, and sculptor’s deceptively simple statement earrings ($22–$28). Inspired by the colors of the New Mexico sky, the Summer Solstice style’s thin strips loop in soft blues, purples, and shades of gray. The bold geometric shapes and spirals range from ¾ inch to 3½ inches long, evoking a light, modern yet retro feel. Pollock works efficiently, thinking about what shapes she might create from each scrap and how to leave the least excess possible. The tinier leftovers even find their way into layered art collages. “I believe that everyone should be able to afford quality, pretty things,” she says.