The theme behind this year’s collection runs deep to the core of what inspires me and the whole of the Kamofie line.Motifs range from the overabundant and scrolling designs of a french chateau to an Art Deco-esque contrast of angular and round shapes. The pieces are infused with an antique charm, lushness and luxury, femininity, natural and sinuous lines, with a touch of the unexpected and whimsy. All things Kamofie! The Regency collection, like all others is meant to become a part of a woman’s everyday wardrobe adding a unique and personal element to her style.

The ring department is filled with scrolling and baguette stackables, as well as large and dreamy statement pieces. Pendants come is all sizes from dramatic medallions to asymmetric scrolls, looking like a shattered reminder of a once beautiful chandelier. Bracelets are shifting from solid bangles and cuffs to more fluid and soft layering chain and diamond dusted combinations. Finally earrings don’t seem to be following any particular trend, save from an absence of the ever popular hoop. Long linear styles as well as both dramatic and simple studs are emerging as the season’s choice.

Sketches:

My favorite piece- a three finger ring.  Admittedly, not the most practical piece, but definitely the most fantastic!

Petite Trianon three-finger ring

1) Some people STEAL.

2) Some people LIE.

3) Some people take advantage of the goodness in others.

4) Don’t let “some people” into your life…or within 100 ft of your store!

It’s been almost 3 years now since my store opened it’s doors, and despite enduring that nasty celebrity scandal, it’s been the most rewarding decision I’ve ever made for my business. Walking through that big glass door every day not only gives me a great reminder of what can be accomplished when you put your mind to something, but so many other advantages…!

The perfect testing ground/ idea generator

Not every design idea turns into a “great piece.” (Yes, it’s true.) And, sometimes a design’s strength or weakness is only clarified by a trial and error of sorts. The more people can experiment with a piece, the more is brought to light about what that piece can be or how it can best fit into a person’s jewelry wardrobe. My point of view is that jewelry should play a significant- though it can be subtle- part in one’s jewelry repertoire. If it says nothing about that person, well, then why bother?? Here’s one of my favorite examples…

Last year I was spending a Saturday afternoon trying on stack rings with one of my favorite customers. Over the course of numerous mixes and matches she exclaims, “Wouldn’t it be great if these pieces were all 1 ring!”  While her creation was rather amusing, it paved the way for a new idea. Why couldn’t those thorn bands I had designed as bookend pieces, get stacked on top of each other to create a totally new, dramatic piece? A few weeks later I designed the “Leslie Ring” which ended up winning the Couture Bridal Design Award, inspired by a unique woman and created for all women who are not afraid to express their unique sense of style.

The "Leslie Ring"

Which leads me to another great thing about my store…

My customers and staff are awesome

So many of them have become my dear friends. Sticking up for me when the media has been not so nice. Sharing their positive experiences at the store on yelp. Even writing letters of recommendation for my daughter’s kindergarten application!  These ladies (and some gents) make me feel like I am adding something special to the world. Those days of designing in my lonely studio were leading to this. Thank you for that!

And the final thing to mention today…

Trend setting rises to a new heights

As a designer, I am always taking in everything in the fashion world and the real world and figuring out a way to offer something new, relevant, and exciting. I spend time looking through the pages of fashion magazines thinking “… and now what?? What’s next?” But perhaps the most meaningful way I go about this trend forecasting is by watching stylish women who walk in my doors and observing what they wear, how they accessorize, listening to their requests, and then thinking about a plan of what I can make that they would love. Having this venue is the single greatest strength I have as a designer. Not only has it made me see how I can fill in the gaps in my collections, it has helped me create a core of tried-and-true, saleable pieces that are solid reflections of the Kamofie vision and aesthetic.

Someone please share. Has Twitter helped your business? If so, how? I set up a Twitter account awhile back. Maybe I didn’t have enough followers for the point to become clear, but aside from the messages people post seeming like they are in some form of obscure code, most posts seem frivolous and redundant. I much prefer FB and blogging to get my ideas across and keeping up with friends and industry happenings. Twitter account, consequently deleted…Mistake? Or a break from meaningless chatter?

Wearabilty and durability have always been important traits I keep in mind when designing. In the last 2 years I’ve had a “new employee” helping in this department. My now 4 year old daugter Ella has risen to the task. Whenever I’m spotted with a new design, the piece is instantly ripped off my neck, fingers… It’s handled gently at the start and within about 5 minutes dropped on the floor, bounced across a room and rolled under some dusty dresser. Sometimes the piece is worn by the tester for several hours, no doubt being smashed, prodded, and aggressively treasured the whole time. Curiously, this approach in jewelry testing has actually proven effective in elucidating a design’s weak spots or strengths. The hardest thing about this approach is retrieving the item from it’s secret hiding spot when the testing is complete!

The Tester

Though spring is not yet upon us, things are blooming at Kamofie! My favorite time of year is here. The frantic holidays have passed and there is a little lull that is happily filled by what I call “Design Time!” We will  be exhibiting at 2 wholesale shows, The Smart Show in Chicago and Couture in Vegas in the first half of this year, and new works are in progress to fill those cases. I’ve been doing so many custom wedding sets at the store that I figured a wedding/bridal collection was due! I am excited to launch this collection featuring men’s rings (finally) as well as some non-traditional options for engagement rings.  Stack rings continue to be a favorite in the store, so more stacks are on the way as well!!  My  newest collection, Element, will have several one-of-a-kind pieces with mixed metals, blackened gold, and raw gemstones. The mood is slightly  darker– more mysterious, perhaps??- than many pieces in the line, yet still distinctively Kamofie. Hope you like all the goodies…will post some preview pics as they are ready!