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Fish Scales Transformed into Jewelry? One-of-a-Kind Accessories Made from Sustainable Materials
Accessories add subtle elegance to everyday outfits. The materials used are truly diverse, from sharp, sparkling metals and deeply colored gemstones, to warm, comforting wood.
In the midst of this diversity, Caribbean Amor creates accessories that truly stand out. Amazingly, they're crafted using "fish scales." It’s an unexpected combination, but accessories made from scales possess a surprising transparency and shimmer delicately when hit by the light.
This time, we interviewed accessory creator Naomi Shinmyo, the founder of this innovative brand, about what led her to use scales, her craftsmanship, and future aspirations.
PROFILE
Naomi Shinmyo
Born in 1980 in Kumamoto Prefecture
Scale accessory artist and nurse
Lived for seven years in the Republic of Panama during childhood due to her father's work assignment.
She loved drawing and crafts since she was a child.
Worked as a nurse, but in pursuit of her lifelong passion for art, she briefly attended Academia de San Carlos, Mexico. Later, she lived in the Philippines, Australia, Germany, and various regions of Japan (Okinawa, Hyogo), before settling in Saitama Prefecture. She switched careers to become a scale accessory creator and launched her brand "Caribbean Amor" in 2020.
The Culture of Her "Second Home," Panama, Became the Inspiration for Scale Accessories
Shinmyo began making accessories in 2020, after moving to Saitama upon marriage and participating in the Soka City Female Startup Program (草加市女性創業スタートアップ事業).Wishing to "help revitalize the community through her talent for crafting accessories," she started selling her handmade pieces and hosting workshops. For the first year, she used common materials like beads. So how did she land on the unusual idea of using fish scales?
"The spark came when my mother, who had purchased Caribbean fish scales in Panama, casually suggested, 'Why not try using these too?' and handed them to me."
Shinmyo spent about seven years in Panama as a child, and the country became her "second home."
"Panama hosts lively parades. Like Japan’s festivals where people parade through the streets dancing, Panama’s parades are vibrant and boisterous. Women wear ornate hairpieces for these parades, and many of those hairpieces incorporate scales."
As a developing country then, Panama had a shortage of materials, so accessories were often crafted from locally available objects like fish scales.
Although familiar with the culture, she initially struggled with using scales in accessories.
"Caribbean fish scales are quite large—about the size of potato chips. At first, I wasn’t sure how to handle them, so I started making simple necklaces, piercings, and earrings."
However, the Caribbean fish scales she received weren’t unlimited and the supply would only shrink as she used them.
She contacted the Panamanian embassy and acquaintances living in Panama, but importing scales was nearly impossible during the pandemic. That’s when she began looking into Japanese domestic fish scales.
Leveraging Cultivated Sensibility for Even More Refined Designs
The first domestic fish scales she acquired came from a fishmonger who had bought her accessories through Instagram."They were a couple running the fish store, and when I met them, they were incredibly warm people. Seeing them work so earnestly at such a young age made me feel that the fish the husband picks must be truly high-quality.
"I believe there are countless gods in accessories, so I want to use materials handled by positive, vibrant people. Using scales given by such wonderful individuals fuels my own creativity and I think it’ll uplift the spirits of those who wear my pieces too."
Since incorporating domestic scales, Shinmyo's accessories have evolved into a broader range of more sophisticated designs. How are these one-of-a-kind designs born?
"I rarely sketch out designs in advance; I make decisions by instinct as I create each piece. I don’t particularly draw inspiration from magazines or books—I come up with each combination from scratch."
This design has an eye-catching vibrancy, and when asked about the source of her inspiration, she shared stories of her rich international experiences.
"I’ve lived not only in Panama but also in countries like Mexico, Australia, and Germany. My encounters with the cultures of each place and the sensibilities of the artists I met have all become part of my designs. I always aim to create pieces that lift your spirits yet never lose their feminine touch when worn.”
These firsthand experiences are the source of her strikingly original accessory designs.
Acting with the Environment in Mind: Breathing New Life into Fish Scales
Shinmyo's accessory crafting is deeply rooted in environmental consideration. She says this awareness was sparked when she revisited Panama as an adult."The seas in Panama, when I lived there around 1983 to 1990, were truly beautiful—I remember swimming and catching fish to eat. But when I visited with my mother in 2008, the area had become terribly polluted. We were told, 'Don’t go in the water' and 'Don’t eat local seafood.'
"Seeing the situation was a huge shock, and I realized how much human activity damages the environment.”
Her consciousness for the environment is reflected in her daily life as well, where she avoids regular detergents and uses so-called "reclaimed water." This water reproduces the natural surfactant effect that water inherently has, making it highly effective at removing oil and also said to aid environmental purification.
"I don’t use neutral detergents or bleach even when cleaning scales. I wash them thoroughly with 'reclaimed water' and let them dry slowly in the sun. It removes the fishy smell completely, too.”
Even when dyeing the scales, she tries to use only natural pigments whenever possible, extracting colors from everyday ingredients such as red radish, summer tangerine peels, coffee, and shiso leaves.
Working with such a unique material hasn’t been without its challenges.
"Because of the nature of fish scales, their shape changes with humidity. High humidity makes them open up, low humidity causes them to shrink. At first, I struggled with how to deal with these changes.
"After much trial and error, I now stabilize the scales’ shapes using wire and resin. Since the scales become hard during crafting, I use a steamer to gently warm and shape each one by hand.”
What would otherwise be thrown away as waste is given a new lease of life, sparkling as beautiful accessories. “The sense of accomplishment when a piece is finished is truly special,” Shinmyo says.
Contributing to Fishmongers & Food Education with Scale Accessories
There’s been a range of feedback from people who have purchased the scale accessories."Some customers have told me, 'Wearing your accessories gives me energy,' while others say things as unique as 'It feels like I can hear the sound of the ocean.'
"Some have even shared, 'Since I started wearing scale accessories, I visit fish stores more often' or 'I’ve become more interested in fish.' I believe there’s real potential for scale accessories to contribute to food education and support local fishmongers.
"Moving forward, I want to evolve the brand so people can enjoy wearing these pieces every day. I hope that when someone sees my accessories, they feel comforted or are reminded, 'This once was a fish'—even for a brief moment, I want my pieces to bring a small sense of healing.
"I'd also like to expand into interior décor, taking my work beyond just accessories.”
These one-of-a-kind scale accessories are made with warmth and care for the wearer. No matter how hectic your days may be, they’re sure to offer gentle moments of comfort and vitality whenever you need them.
Text by Rika Okuyama
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