Company Information
Leighton Lam Designs

Leighton Lam Designs, Inc. established in 1979, encompassed not only Leighton’s resin art; it became the source for successful art related products. The company is a partnership with his wife of 30 years, Lani. She runs the administrative and distribution side of the business while Leighton focuses on designing and marketing.

In the ‘80’s Leighton’s Ear Art™ resin jewelry swept the country as part of the new “Art to Wear fashion wave.” He was featured in major accessory trade shows in New York and Los Angeles. The bold colors and geometric shapes defined the times and his jewelry was carried in over 400 stores throughout the country.

The ‘90’s were a time of changing trends and jewelry fashion quickly toned down to basics in gold and silver.  Seeing the change and what was missing in the market, Leighton focused his energy back home in Hawaii. This new focus inspired him to create the Hawaiian Nature Collection™ and Hawaiian Quilt Designs™ jewelry collections. He moved his production from resin to metal. He quickly mastered the technique of using acid to cut brass in fine detail, and then plated it in 24K gold or oxidized silver. In 2001, Leighton added a cast sterling silver and diamond-cutting design to the line. The beauty of Hawaii and the intricate patterns of Hawaiian Quilting inspire them. The designs are all from his original artwork and he adds new pieces to the collection yearly.

The construction of his new art studio and home in 1996 gave Leighton the opportunity to create exterior lighting fixtures.  Using the same acid cutting technology he increased the scale of his art designs to create a single art piece on copper sheets. He named this collection of beautiful lighting Paradise Lights™, designed to create a Hawaiian sense of place.

2001 marks the return of color in Leighton’s Pacific Isle Collection™. Combining fresh water pearls, crystal and sterling silver he has created an elegant new twist in pearl jewelry.

Leighton continues to create original fine art pieces and does commission work throughout Hawaii. Leighton Lam Designs employs four full-time craftsmen. The annual output of product is over 120,000 units of earrings and jewelry accessories. Leighton served several years on the board of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii (chair of the Made in Hawaii committee). He is a past President and life director of the Punahou School O’Men. He has received three “Hawaii Retail Merchants Manufacturer of the Year (unique catagory)” awards in 1997, 2002 and 2004.

Biography
Leighton Lam

Leighton’s father, Chapman Lam at age 4, escaped with his parents on one of the last ships to leave China before Japan took over the country. That ship came to Hawaii. Leighton’s father graduated from Punahou School and Oregon State University where he met his wife. He went on to a career as an officer in the US Navy.  The navy sent them all over the world and during this time, Leighton and his three sisters were born.

Leighton was the second child, born on October 14th 1955 in Long Beach California. Leighton’s first birthday was on a ship bound for Japan and for the next 10 years he lived in Japan, Washington DC, San Diego and Taiwan.  When given another tour of duty in Hawaii in 1966 they decided it was time to settle down and make Hawaii home.

The first thing Leighton did was start surfing and making surfboards. Using polyester resin to make surfboards in 1967, he had no idea that his love of surfing would launch him into a lifetime journey as an artist. As he poured different colored resins over his hand shaped surfboards the flow and blending of the resin intrigued him.  He saw its potential as an art medium. For the next 26 years Leighton created Resin Art. With 72 solo exhibits and public and private collections ranging from Queens Hospital to Rumors Night Club.

Leighton and Lani’s daughter, a Stanford grad, now works for Google, and their son is a senior at Punahou School.

Leighton and his kids love surfing and windsurfing and get in the water as often as possible.