JA New York to debut next top jewelry designers
July 17, 2008
New York—The next generation of star jewelry designers will make their industry debut in the 31st Annual New Designer Gallery at the
JA New York Summer Show, to be held from July 27-30 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.
The New Designer Gallery sets the standard for the New Designer Showcase, which has launched the careers of such renowned, respected and influential designers as Whitney Boin, Steven Kretchmer, Tom Kruskal, Penny Preville, Eddie Sakamoto, Alex Sepkus and David Yurman.
The 2008 New Designers are:
Alexandra Essex—Booth 937
Each piece in Alexandra Essex's Exquisite Jewels Collection is one of a kind and crafted from the world's finest materials. While creating the collection in Montecito, Essex worked exclusively with solid gold, from 14-karat to 22-karat, and elusively rare gems and stones, many of which were sourced from single mines deep in the mountains of their respective countries.
Belle Brooke Barer—Booth 933
Handmade designs inspired by nature's inherent symmetry make Belle Brooke Designs' Metropolis collection uniquely breathtaking.
Daphna Simon—Booth 945
After developing remarkable skill under the apprenticeship of one of the most respected and highly regarded goldsmiths in Israel, Simon gained extensive experience providing distinctive 18-karat gold jewelry for private clientele. Now she launches the Untamed Jewelry collection, bringing her designs to a broader audience of fine-jewelry boutiques and galleries.
Diana Widman—Booth 937A
Diane Widman's jewelry conveys texture and movement through beautiful designs in precious metals and carefully placed gemstones. Her core design philosophy, "Elegance for Everyday," is brought to life in her designs through the comfort and durability in each piece, allowing a woman to wear it with casual or formal attire.
Donna Distefano—Booth 939
Classical design and sophistication are captured in Donna Distefano's unique handcrafted jewelry designs. Drawing upon her Italian heritage for inspiration and her knowledge as a jewelry expert, Distefano has a unique edge and has already established a clientele of collectors. Her use of time-honored techniques and breaking trends has catapulted her to the industry spotlight.
Gintaré—Booth 943A
The Gintaré Collection is an intoxicating visual language of the soul. The inherent beauty of gemstones and their natural restorative and healing properties inspires the designer's pieces.
Kristin Hanson—Booth 947A
2007 Couture Award winner for one of America's top 40 couture designers, Kristin Hanson started with the childhood dream to make the world more beautiful with her jewelry. Since then, she has stayed on her passionate pursuit to incorporate elegance, innovation and edgy art into each design.
Lena Sklyut—Booth 941
Lena Skylut's collection is uniquely tailored to meet the individualistic needs of her clients. Each luxurious piece embraces precious metals and mysterious stones—all suitable for people who are not mindlessly occupied with following trends.
Nina Basharova—Booth 935
A collection of hand-finished pieces with a truly modern sensibility, Nina Basharova's designs are based on a harmony of balance and contrast in the use of colors and textures. Her goal is to transform everyday objects into extraordinary pieces of wearable art through play and sense of humor.
Sonja Picard—Booth 943
Sonja Picard has been evolving her professional skills over the past 17 years through the exploration of clay, glass, mixed media, wax and metals. Her collection, titled "The Sonja Picard Collection," has grown to more than 300 pieces and is inspired and created in alignment with the ancient Yogic concepts and tantric traditions of adornment.
To celebrate the talent on display in the New Designer Gallery this year, JA New York will host a special press event at the show. Cindy Edelstein, fine-jewelry expert and author of
Brilliance: The Art of the American Jewelry, will introduce show attendees to the new designers on Monday, July 28, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., adding expert commentary on trends and positioning of the jewelry elite.
One designer from the New Designer Gallery will be awarded the prestigious Mort Abelson New Designer of the Year Award, on Monday, July 28, at 3 p.m. The award is named after Mort Abelson, founder of the New Designer Gallery and the man to credit for bringing "designer jewelry" to the forefront of the industry. This year's winner will join the ranks of past winners such as Joseph Murray, Diana Heimann and Jutta Munsteiner.
—Other highlights and press events of the 2008 JA New York Summer Show:
—New to the International Pavilion this year, Indonesian exhibitors will welcome show attendees with a festive and informative welcome reception, in which Indonesian Ambassador H.E. Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat will speak to the crowd on Monday, July 28, at 1:15 p.m., adjacent to the International Pavilion.
—Jewelry expert Cindy Edelstein will be signing her book on Monday, July 28, at 2 p.m.
—The Jewelers of America Education Seminars will take place on the show floor and in privately held classes at the Javits Center. Courses begin this year with a focus on digital media marketing and shift direction to discuss financial and inventory management by the end of the week.
—National Jeweler Network and JA New York are hosting a night of cocktails, light fare, networking, music and dancing. The JA New York Summer Show Party will take place on Monday, July 28, from 6:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. at Crest, 268 W. 47 St. at 8th Avenue.
For exhibitor inquiries, contact Drew Lawsky at (646) 654-4983 or Drew.Lawsky@nielsen.com.
For attendee-registration inquiries, call (508) 743-8506.
For more information about the JA New York Summer Show, visit the show's Web site,
JA-NewYork.com.
RSS
