The first Alexis Bittar jewelry line, his iconic “Lucite collection” was influenced by retro Bakelite and Lalique glass and was created out of hand carved painted and gilded Lucite. The second line “Elements” featured the beauty of precious and semi precious stones mixed with metals and shapes, gold, rhodium, and gunmetal molten items. Bittar’s semi-precious pieces combine the finest quality gems such as sapphire, pink tourmaline, green amethyst and Mabe pearl with Intricate designs. Bittar’s third line “Miss Havisham” had a more sculptural mood. The result is a collection of jewelry that epitomizes a refined, delicate aesthetic. Each piece of jewelry is handcrafted and hand painted by skilled artisans, all of whom work out of the designer’s Brooklyn based studio. Alexis Bittar is originally from New York.
English fashion designer Anya Hindmarch first made headlines for her eco-friendly canvas tote, “I’m Not A Plastic Bag.” Anya used her influence in a positive way to make it fashionable not to use plastic bags. Hindmarch later opened a small shop in Walton Street, London, with her early products based heavily on Italian design principles. Anya was awarded Designer Brand of the Year in 2007 at the prestigious British Fashion Awards and in both 2006 and 2007, was awarded Designer of the Year by Glamour magazine. Become an Oscar nominee and you will receive the highly coveted Oscar Gift Bag, which has been designed by Anya Hindmarch the past three years.
Be & D was founded in 2004 by Be Inthavong and Steve Dumain. Their First design, the "Garbo", became an international phenomenon and catapulted Be & D onto the scene as a new force in the Luxury market. Be & D's atelier in New York's Garment District continues in the hands-on tradition of storied European luxury houses. It is here that the brand's day and evening bags, belts and small leather goods are designed and produced. Many celebrities are known loyalists to the Be & D brand including Blake Lively, Mena Suvari, Eva Longoria, Liv Tyler, and Jessica Biel.
Ben Minkoff, Rebecca Minkoff's line of men's accessories marries modern practicality with mid-century ruggedness. Introduced in Spring 2011, the collection is inspired by the iconic military heritage of Rebecca's grandfather, Ben, who was a World War II fighter pilot. Incorporating military design elements into masculine silhouettes, Ben Minkoff blends nostalgia and modernity; functionality and style. This collection seamlessly incorporates into the lifestyle of a dynamic, hardworking man.
The aromas of Bond No.9 are just as unique as the city they represent. With its headquarters at 9 Bond Street, Bond No.9's mission is to restore artistry to perfumery, and mark every New York neighborhood with a scent of its own. Their collection of men's, women's, and unisex scents make you smell just as good as you look.
Brevard is a Los Angeles based designer jewelry company founded in 1980 by the late Lee Brevard. When first introduced, Brevard completely redefined modern American designer jewelry, taking jewelry out of the staid 'fine jewelry" tradition, and setting a new standard with pieces that can be worn every day, everywhere, coining the phrase, "wearable art." Since 1994, under the direction of designer Bryan Moss, Brevard continues to evolve and grow. With elegant multi-bead and pearl combination necklaces, and hammered pendants, earrings, rings and bangles, set with precious gems, Brevard jewelry evokes an old world, mysterious quality, part Renaissance, part Celtic, part pirate's treasure.
Originally from Vietnam, Chan Luu moved to the US and studied at the Los Angeles Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising before launching her own handcrafted accessories line in 1996. Each Chan Luu collection is deeply personal, inspired by the various cultures she experiences in her travels. Her boho-luxe pieces have been featured in Vogue, Elle, Glamour, Harper Bazaar and InStyle and are loved by A-list celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Reese Wetherspoon and Nicole Richie.Using hand cut semi-precious stones, beads, and colored fresh water pearls, Chan's trademark is her artistic skill in combining unusual forms with beautiful colors to create truly striking pieces.
A visionary who has spent her life searching the globe for unusual objects, Dian Malouf is a nationally recognized jewelry designer, published author, mother and obsessive measurer of electromagnetic fields. She frequently incorporates her passion for environmental causes and political and social themes into her designs.
Founded in Paris in 1961 by 3 Parisian artists, Diptyque candles are simply amazing. Fragrances and experiences are captured from around the world and mixed into a cup of waxy heaven. Composed of forty raw materials, the fragrance is innovative yet complex, neither masculine nor feminine. These candles will always make your environment more pleasurable.
Jewelry designer, Elizabeth Showers, began to realize her purpose in life was to help empower all women to feel beautiful inside and out, and her jewelry designs could be the vehicle to help her spread this message. As a result, Elizabeth created her star company logo and named it the "Hope Star" a symbol which she places on almost all of her jewelry to serve as a reminder that women should feel beautiful every day.
Erica Courtney's exquisite work truly is drop dead gorgeous. We've been a fan of Erica forever.....even back in the day when she was working with sterling silver......and even before that when she was bedazzling sunglasses! Obviously she has come a looooong way. Today Erica's jewelry is one-of-a-kind works of art with countless pave diamonds, eye-catching vintage colored stones, and rare Tahitian and South Sea pearls. Every single gem is handpicked by Erica herself with exceptional attention to detail. By working with only pieces she loves and pieces that attract and inspire her, Erica's intense love affair with jewelry is embodied is embodied in each and every piece in her collection.
Housed in a historic Seattle building, Jamie and Jeremy Joseph's Seattle Studio is a reflection of their collaborative design aesthetic. Showcasing Jeremy's woodworking skills, custom wood fixtures and furniture adorn the light filled functioning workspace. Working together, Jamie and Jeremy Joseph convey their artistic vision by focusing on bringing light, shape, and an organic framework to some of the most beautiful stones in the world. Giving equal focus to qualities of movement, asymmetry, texture and luminosity, stones are transformed into wearable treasures with gold, silver, platinum and diamonds.
Poetry hand-engraved onto precious metals is how San Francisco-based jewelry designer Jeanine Payer creates her collections of emotionally engaging yet subtle jewelry. There are few things as intimate as wearing poetry against your skin. Growing up in Southern California, Payer was surrounded by an artistic family who encouraged her to pursue creative expression in all its forms, whether it was keeping journals or studying sculpture and drawing. "I believe in pieces having a wonder about them. I like making things that are at once both powerful and private" says Payer.
Lauren Merkin is a luxury handbag line founded in 2002 by designer, Lauren Merkin. Lauren’s creative and entrepreneurial nature enabled her to start her own company after completing her MBA from Columbia University . Her first bag, hand-crafted with an old sewing machine sparked a idea to fill a niche in women’s accessories. Lauren then created her signature Louise clutch bag and hit the ground running. It was not long before her bags were on the red carpet at Hollywood’s biggest events and in the hands of Tinsel Town’s biggest stars. Her collection of clutches combines classic design with unexpected fabrics and finishes and compliment all aspects of a woman’s wardrobe, from jeans and t-shirts to the most elaborate ball gown.
New York City born fashion designer, Marc Jacobs, who established an upscale couture line under his name, diffused a modern cool collection, and holds the title of creative designer to the prestigious French luxury brand Louis Vuitton. Jacobs studied at Parsons School of Art and Design in New York and later started designing for Perry Ellis. He then carried on to his own line the Marc Jacobs Collection that became an instant hit within the fashion and celebrity world. Marc Jacobs handbags are known to be very versatile and chic. Their designs range from the ultra feminine to the ruggedly feminine. They come in a range of materials from classic leather to the more modern linen.
Me & Ro’s spirited and inspirational designs have become a staple of the modern, fashion jewelry collector. Design director and founder Robin Renzi has created symbolic pieces ever since she and a friend began the company in 1991. Using ancient characters from Tibetan, Chinese, Sanskrit and Tamil languages, much of the jewelry is engraved with meaning in a simple, straightforward manner Cast in silver, gold and platinum, their pieces seek strength in both simplicity and weight. Using precious stones such as Brown Diamonds, Rubies, Multi-colored Sapphires, rare stones such as Antique Tibetan Coral, Andalusite, Brazilian Opals, and semi-precious stones such as Lapis, Turquoise, and Rutilated Quartz, each individual stone is set by hand.
In 1996, Mizuki Nagasawa and Alan Goltz created the Mizuki Collection of precious jewelry and have been reshaping classic design ever since. Born in Tokyo , raised in New York and schooled in sculpture at SVA, Mizuki combined her fine arts background and Japanese heritage with the cool of Soho to create designer jewelry which has sleek movement and powerful shapes. Executed in 14 karat gold with diamonds and precious stones, her collections are refreshingly original, slightly bohemian and delightfully affordable.
The orYANY handbag collection, launched in the spring of 2010, is a breath of fresh air in the luxury leather handbag market. orYANY offers chic and functional, multi-purpose handbags complete with organization for keys, cell phones and PDA’s for women on the go. New York City based and privately owned by an entrepreneur who has been passionate about leather, design and art throughout his life, the orYANY collection is a direct reflection of his years in the handbag industry producing clean design, timeless styles and functionality. Details include signature hardware, rich and luxurious color palettes and easy shapes.
Rebecca Lankford started designing years ago at her kitchen table making jewelry for herself and friends as a hobby. Rebecca attributes her creative passion to her mom. “I grew up with a mom that was extremely creative. She made everything, she was a fantastic gardener, she made patterns to make beautiful clothes, and she even crocheted a bikini for me once.” Rebecca’s Catholic upbringing and her Christian faith are both strong influences in the line. “…people ask me about the symbolism in the jewelry, I tell them it’s simply.....I love crosses and I love what they stand for.” Rebecca’s Jewelry designs range from bohemian to sophisticated and are constantly evolving through different experiences.
An industry leader in casual luxury handbags, accessories, and apparel, Rebecca Minkoff's playful and subtly edgy designs can be spotted on girls everywhere from downtown LA and uptown Manhattan to the avenues Paris and Rome . In 2009, she was honored as a New York Moves Power Women for her entrepreneurial success in the fashion industry and in 2010 was admitted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). As passionate about connecting with her consumers, as she is design, Rebecca Minkoff has quickly grown to become the #1 independent accessories designer in the United States . Rebecca's goal is to become a complete lifestyle brand for the fashion forward female.
Originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, Shaesby Scott’s inspiration is rooted in art and sculpture. Shaesby’s appreciation of art led to a fine arts degree in sculpture and an early endeavor designing furniture and sculpture. He opened his first studio while in college. It was then that he began his career manipulating metal. While living abroad in Rio de Janeiro, Shaesby discovered his passion for jewelry. He embraced the Brazilian custom of adorning the body with art. Today, Shaesby produces sophisticated collections that fuse art with fashion. Each collection moves easily from day into night from one season to the next. Shaesby’s unique sensibility is widely appreciated for being both highly fashionable and casually elegant.
High Point, North Carolina sisters Heath and Landon joined creative forces in 1995 with the desire to design a line of high end sterling silver jewelry. Their vision for the collection was then and remains today a varied mix of influences to include: architecture, nature and spiritual symbols.One of the most distinctive elements of the Slane philosophy may be the connection between what you wear and who you are. Each of their collections represents both their philosophical and aesthetic sensibility. Their design studio was initially a Round Table of sorts where artists, thinkers and seekers could come together to collaborate and share ideas. Drawn to the healing and transformative powers of jewelry, Heath and Landon continue to welcome a collaborative approach to the design process.
Italian designer Temple St. Clair Carr's first collection debuted exclusively at Barneys New York in the fall of 1987. Temple St. Clair expanded to luxury retailers throughout the United States, becoming an essential for an in-the- know clientele. From the signature rock crystal amulets to collectible cocktail rings, Temple St. Clair is known for modern classic style and impeccable use of fine colored gemstones and distinctive gold work. The philosophy of the company is to offer the highest quality in fine jewelry while introducing collectors to timeless design, exquisite colored gemstones and gold craftsmanship, for which Temple St. Clair is known.
Tom Ford, the Texas native has become an icon in the design industry. He studied at Parsons, The New School for Design where he majored in architecture. Tom designed for Perry Ellis but soon grew tired of American Fashion and moved to Italy where he is accredited with revitalizing Gucci, a then faltering luxury goods company. Under Ford's leadership, Gucci acquired the venerable French brand Yves Saint Laurent. Mr. Ford resigned from the company in 2005 and founded his own fashion company, Tom Ford Brand, which offers menswear, eyewear, and beauty products.
