‘The Power of Jewelry’

Palisades Collective Has a Mission to ‘Rebuild, Uplift and Unite’ Through a Line of Hats and Necklaces

BY AUDREY SMITH | Intern

Looking for a way to bring her community together—while raising funds for local fire relief efforts—Marquez Knolls resident Kristine Granz created Palisades Collective, which offers a line of hats and necklaces.

“At Palisades Collective, we believe in the strength of community—especially when it’s tested by fire,” read the brand’s website. “Born from the ashes of the recent blaze that swept through the Palisades in Los Angeles, our mission is simple: to rebuild, uplift and unite through the power of jewelry.”

The idea of Palisades Collective took shape one month after the Palisades fire, when Granz gave out custom “Palisades Strong” hats as favors at her daughter Kayla’s bat mitzvah.

“People kept asking me where they could get one,” Granz recalled.

Guests also asked about the matching “Palisades Strong” necklaces worn by Granz and her two daughters, Kayla and Cassidy.

“I thought, ‘Let’s just make some more of them,’” Granz said. “And this time, let’s fundraise and give back to something important to us.”

She produced more hats and necklaces with the help of her friends who work in jewelry and merchandising, and used the proceeds to support the Palisades’ recovery. Palisades Collective officially launched on Valentine’s Day.

“It was born from a desire to rebuild with purpose, to unite the community and to connect people,” Granz said.

In its first month, all proceeds were donated to Marquez Charter Elementary School, where both of her daughters had attended. Since then, Granz and her daughters have chosen a different local cause each month to support.

“​​The mission is also deeply personal to our daughters,” read the Palisades Collective website. “Having grown up in the Palisades, they want to give back to the schools, parks and places that shaped their childhood. As we grow, our goal is to expand our support to the institutions that have meant the most to them and so many others in our community.”

Granz and her husband bought their first home together in the Palisades in 2008, according to the Palisades Collective website.

“The devastating Palisades fire uprooted us, forcing difficult decisions about where to live and how to move forward,” the website continued. “Through it all, one thing remained clear: the strength of our neighbors, the kindness of friends and the unwavering love we have for this place.”

Palisades Collective has also participated in fundraising events: They had a pop-up at the first block party in the community following the fire, hosted by Palisades Garden Cafe, and a pop-up at a Palisades Strong event on the Santa Monica Pier.

Granz has hosted a Mahjong party at her temporary home in Brentwood to raise money for Palisades Charter High School and a succulent-making party, catered by Gracias Señor and La La Land, to raise money for Pali High’s baseball team.

Inspired by community traditions in the Palisades, two limited-edition Fourth of July hats are available on the website.

“This is a way for people to still feel that Palisades spirit, even if things look different right now,” Granz reflected.

In addition to the Palisades-centric items, there are also LA Strong necklaces and hats, as well as hats that read Malibu Strong. There is a necklace with the Palisades’ zip code, 90272, as well as a necklace that says Pali.

“It’s not about the merchandise,” Granz said. “It’s about knowing I’m connected to all of these people, and we’re in this together.”

The collection is available at wearethepalisadescollective.com and Rosewood Miramar in Montecito.