Machete Accessories and Hair Clips

Machete accessories start with a habit most women repeat every morning without thinking, twisting their hair up and out of the way before the day begins. Jennifer Jaime founded the Atlanta-based brand in 2015 with four earring designs. Machete hair clips followed. The claw clips have since become the brand's signature.

The pieces are cut from fine Italian acetate, a material whose color runs through the acetate instead of sitting on the surface. Hold a tortoise claw clip up to a window, and the pattern shows in layers of honey and deep brown. Machete is moving its acetate toward bio- and plant-based sources made from wood pulp and cotton. Production stays in limited quantities. The shift in material is a concrete change for anyone who wants sustainable hair accessories.

Claw clips come in several sizes. A small acetate claw clip handles a half-up twist, while the larger styles gather a full head of thick hair into one secure hold. Barrettes run from slim clips that lie flat above the ear to wide tortoise barrette styles worn at the nape. French hair pins hold a low chignon, and acetate headbands come in solid and patterned colorways. The brand also makes sunglasses in its tortoise patterns.

An acetate hair clip is light enough to clip onto a bag strap or drop into a coat pocket, ready for the moment hair needs to come up. It is one of the most practical pieces in our hair accessories. Each colorway is produced in a limited run, much as our clothing is cut in small batches in New York City rather than by the thousands.