SAND SPRINGS, Okla. — When Jimmy and Alicia Gramblin moved from Oklahoma to Hawaii, an unlikely business was created.
The Gramblins who had lived in Oklahoma most of their lives lived in Hawaii from 2013 to 2014. After a natural disaster hit in Maui, they knew they had to step up.
Jimmy Gramblin. (Courtesy Photo)“In 2014 a terrible tropical storm hit the southwest slopes of Haleakalā devastating thousands of eucalyptus trees,” Jimmy Gramblin said. “We really wanted to do something with these trees instead of letting them rot on the forest floor.”
It was this event that led to the creation of Moku, a business specializing in consumer products made from wood art and leather.
“The name Moku means island, which is where we started the business on the island of Maui,” Gramblin said.
“All our designs started with a concept of art that was geometric in nature, something that would transcend culture and time but at the same time capture the essence of the Hawaiian heritage we were so inspired by,” Gramblin said.
Moku products range from jewelry, cufflinks, sunglasses and tie pins to coasters, hot plates, bottle openers, phone docks, wallets and more. (Courtesy Photo)In 2014, the Gramblins moved back to Oklahoma with their wood.
“From then we have moved into creating products that are Native American inspired as well as out of locally sourced woods here in Oklahoma which include Osage orange, [eastern red]cedar, [bald] cypress and walnut,” Gramblin said.
All designs are created by Jimmy Gramblin and Jake Purdum. Products range from jewelry, cufflinks, sunglasses and tie pins to coasters, hot plates, bottle openers, phone docks, wallets and more.
Gramblin says his customers like that his products are created with upcycled wood from both Hawaii and Oklahoma. All products are created and assembled in Oklahoma and are shipped all over the U.S.
Moku recently joined the Made in Oklahoma Program. For more information, visit www.shopmoku.com or find the company on Etsy, Facebook or Instagram.
–Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
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