KickStart 2016: Meet emerging designer Emma Calvert

International Jewellery London’s annual KickStart initiative is aimed at emerging UK designers looking to take their business to the next level.

10 up-and-coming design talents have been selected by the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) and IJL to have the unique opportunity to showcase their jewellery at IJL 2016 on a group stand in the prestigious Design Gallery.

Here, we meet 2016 KickStarter Emma Calvert, whose brand is aimed at intelligent and confident women who love bright, bold and vibrant jewellery.

Q: If you had to describe your brand in three words what words would you choose?

EC: Bold, vibrant, modern.

Q: How did you get started in the jewellery industry?

EC: I set up Emma Calvert in 2012 having worked within jewellery production, sales and design for brands such as Vivienne Westwood and most recently Rachel Jackson London. Through studying BA textile design at Central St. Martins I explored the concept of three-dimensional woven jewellery, which developed into my signature braid collection.

Q: Can you explain a little bit more about your design style, your key collection(s) and the type of customer you are designing for?

EC: By incorporating precious metals alongside modern materials, my design style combines bright, bold shapes with an attention to detail. My new collection ‘Memento’ encapsulates the essence of the urban city with its architectural style and graffiti inspired colours.

The Emma Calvert customer is intelligent and confident with her own innate style. She loves to tell the stories behind the things she owns.

Q: What are the most challenging aspects of launching and growing a new brand in 2016?

EC: Social media is great as it allows me to get my work out into a wider audience and keep in touch with my current customers but in turn it is challenging to stand out amongst so many talented designers. Consumers have so much choice available to them you need to be innovative in order to get noticed.

Q: If you had a mentor in the jewellery industry what would you ask them?

EC: I would ask “What is the most important aspect when launching a new collection?”
In the short term any advice or tips on how best to prepare for a trade show would be really helpful.

Q: What are you most looking forward to about exhibiting at IJL 2016 and what do you hope to achieve?

EC: I’m really looking forward to presenting my new collection at IJL to a range of retailers and press. I hope to make new connections and contacts with buyers in both UK and Europe in order to continue growing my business.

Q: Are there any types of retailers or stockists in particular that you are trying to attract?

EC: I’m trying to attract retailers such as concept stores, galleries, department stores and independent boutiques.

 

KickStart 2016: Meet CF Concept creative director Charlotte Scott Moncrieff

International Jewellery London’s annual KickStart initiative is aimed at emerging UK designers looking to take their business to the next level.

10 up-and-coming design talents have been selected by the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) and IJL to have the unique opportunity to showcase their jewellery at IJL 2016 on a group stand in the prestigious Design Gallery.

Here, we meet 2016 KickStarter Charlotte Scott Moncrieff, whose business CF Concept is on route to become the next big Scandi-cool brand…

Q: If you had to describe your brand in three words which words would you choose?

CSM: Scandinavian, Contemporary, Classic

Q: How did you get started in the jewellery industry?

CSM: I have always been interested in the creative world – art, photography, literature, film etc. I studied sculpture in Florence and worked on pieces from full length to busts but being surrounded by so many jewellers in the city I was intrigued and gradually minimised the sculpting and started working with wax and casting. For me it was a natural progression and a fluid process.

Q: Can you explain a little bit more about your design style, your key collection(s) and the type of customer you are designing for?

CSM: I try to incorporate a Danish design ethos into all of my collections and also integrate inspiration from my travels. The latest collection Serac – meaning ‘a pinnacle or ridge of ice on the surface of a glacier’ sought to bring the majestic icebergs of Greenland to life, with solid gold paying tribute to the grandeur of these natural beauties and diamonds reflecting their brilliance and tenacity.

I design for people who are curious and engender a sense of adventure and fun. My collections are modern; streamline with an edge which allows for delicate/subtle additions to an outfit but they can also be layered and paired to create a more emphatic look – everyone can create their own individual look.

Q: What are the most challenging aspects of launching and growing a new brand in 2016?

CSM: There are a lot of aspects to growing a business – so I would say that it’s the sheer amount of work involved that can be a challenge especially when you’re operating as a one-man band! I am passionate about driving CF Concept forward so I do love the challenges. Next up – making the IJL journey as productive and positive as possible!

Q: If you had a mentor in the jewellery industry what would you ask them?

I would love to ask them what makes their brand run and tick – is it there one particular thing they focus on or is it a culmination of many things? In the short term which aspect should I tackle first?

Q: What are you most looking forward to about exhibiting at IJL 2016 and what do you hope to achieve?

CSM: I am really excited to introduce my collections to such a wide industry audience – everyone who attends the show are interested in jewellery in one form or another. IJL’s Kickstarter provides an amazing platform with a great reach for new designers so making the most of that support and encouragement is the aim.

I hope to get the press excited about CF Concept and to attract the interest of buyers who would be willing to take on the brand. So until September I’ll be in full work mode to make sure I deliver the best brand experience possible.

Q: Are there any types of retailers or stockists in particular that you are trying to attract?

CSM: I would love to spread the CF Concept brand far and wide with reputable stockists – from large shops to smaller boutiques. Finding a department store in London to get behind CF Concept would be a dream – the city where it all happens – where CF is designed and made.

5 minutes with: Katrien Coenders, head of design, Nikki Lissoni

Nikki Lissoni has mastered the interchangeable jewellery concept, developing a legion of loyal fans thanks to its fashion-forward coin designs and emotion-led shopping experience.

We spoke to Katrien Coenders, head of design at Nikki Lissoni, to find out what makes the brand so successful…

Q: How would you describe the signature style of Nikki Lissoni?

KC: I create every piece with feminine beauty in mind. I also believe it is important that our jewellery should make you feel good about yourself when you wear it. My designs are unique allowing the wearer to personalise their look and express their own individuality. All our jewellery is fashionable, high quality and sophisticated.

Q: Who is the typical Nikki Lissoni customer, what sort of woman is she?

KC: She is independent and sophisticated with a sense of fashion and style. The Nikki Lissoni customer is not afraid to express herself or celebrate her femininity.

Q: The Nikki Lissoni ‘Show Your Emotions’ and emotion-led designs are really clever at tapping into the personalisation trend – do you find your customers are looking for jewellery that expresses their personalities?

KC: We believe every customer has a desire to promote their unique style and individualism. The meaningful messages and matching emotion cards have the power to make any woman feel beautiful and positive about herself.

Q: Can you highlight some of the brand’s best-selling pieces and explain what makes them popular among your customer base?

KC: The AW15 interchangeable coin bangle (pictured above right) which has an elegant and sophisticated look. The rose gold and pearl coin (pictured top left) is always popular, not only because of its on trend colour but also because of the timeless look of the pearl.

Another bestselling piece is the golden bangle with a dream catcher charm, which gives it a bohemian look.

B1114G19 kopie
The Dreamcatcher charm bangle

The mirrored glass earrings with Swarovski crystals are popular across all age groups, while the star motifs – presented in charms and coins – appeal to every imagination(pictured top centre).

AW15 product visual_0183 kopie
Mirrored glass earrings with Swarovski crystals.

Q: Are there any trends that you have noticed among Nikki Lissoni’s UK and Irish customer base?

KC: British and Irish women are definitely in love with rose gold jewellery, also the expandable bangle with charms is conquering throughout our markets at the moment.

Q: Will you be launching new collections for International Jewellery London in September and what should we look forward to?

KC: Yes, besides the beautiful winter collection 2016/2017 we will also launch a new kind of interchangeable jewellery.

See Nikki Lissoni at International Jewellery London 2016 at Olympia Grand from 4-6 September on Stand G20. 

Inspire Insights: How Bronzallure is reaching new heights in Europe

Bronzallure may have only been on the scene for two years, but it has swiftly developed a reputation for quality, fashion-forward designs and affordable prices.

Here, UK brand development manager, Jennie Higgins, explains more about the brand’s Italian origins, its best-selling ranges and its progress in the tricky-to-crack UK and Irish markets.

Q: Bronzallure is relatively new in the UK market, can you tell us a little bit more about its origins?

JH: Absolutely, Bronzallure has been in the UK for two years now and is experiencing a fantastic reception across the country. Bronzallure was launched in Italy in 2011, so it is still a relatively young brand. We have experienced phenomenal growth across Europe, and we now have over 3,000 retail partners in Europe.

Q: What can you tell us about the Italian manufacturer that creates Bronzallure jewellery, what is its heritage?

JH: Milor SpA is the family company behind Bronzallure and has been manufacturing jewellery for over 35 years in Italy. Milor is an international leader in the jewellery market and has decades of experience manufacturing for global brands, particularly in fine gold jewellery. However, this is the first time Milor has manufactured under its own brand name.

What sets Bronzallure apart from other fashion jewellery brands is that every piece is imagined, designed, created and shipped directly from Italy – something which is really quite unusual for such a competitively priced collection.

Milor is known for its’ expertise combined with creativity and innovation which is clearly evident in this collection. With an innovative one true rose gold colour Bronzallure jewellery sets a new standard in fashion jewellery. This combined with semi precious gemstones offers the customer a fresh and exciting alternative at affordable prices.

Bronzallure rings

Q: What are the brand’s best selling pieces and how often are new collections introduced?

JH: We release two collections each year; Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter, so there is always something new to attract the end consumers’ interest. Overall, our wrist wear collections continue to be very strong. Bronzallure is ideal for both gifting and self purchases. With our expansive range of natural stone colours, we are perfectly poised to reflect fashion colour trends.

Seasonally the more fashion inspired pieces tend to be very strong sellers and our classic designs are consistently popular – for example, our tennis bracelets which retail at £49 and our stacking rings in the region of £89 are the kind of bread-and-butter pieces which really keep traffic flowing.

Retail partners and end consumers are constantly surprised at the affordability of the collection, especially once they learn about the provenance and heritage of the brand.

Q: What sort of customers does Bronzallure attract?

JH: The beauty of Bronzallure is that it holds a wide and varied market appeal. Our pieces range from classically elegant and traditional designs such as the rolo and curb chain link styles through to contemporary and fashion inspired ranges – all of which are positioned at highly competitive price points, ranging from £49-£250.

The high quality of the manufacture ensures longevity so whether a shopper is looking for a seasonal fashion or a timeless piece, there is something to attract everyone.

Q: How many retail partners does the brand have in the UK right now, and what are your aims for growing this over the next few months?

JH: We currently have over 160 stores throughout the UK and Ireland and we are looking for additional partners to come on board – a large proportion of our growth is focused on supporting and nurturing the existing relationships through a series of support programs to ensure the in-store teams have all the tools they require to really grow the brand. What’s noticeable with these retailers is the year-on-year sales increases as the repeat customer sales kick in.

Q: What are your experiences of exhibiting at International Jewellery London, and how does the show benefit you?

JH: We have been exhibiting at IJL for three years now and this year we are delighted to be exhibiting on The Boulevard, which reflects the brand’s position in our other international exhibitions.

IJL is a fantastic platform for us to showcase the brand in an environment where the key players from across the country and abroad come to view the very best jewellery brands. It’s the ideal opportunity to present new and existing collections on a much grander scale than is possible out on the road, helping to improve awareness of our brand and build on the relationships with our current and prospective partners.

See Bronzallure at International Jewellery London 2016 from September 4-6th on Stand D41. 

Jennie Higgins

KickStart 2016: Meet emerging designer Emma Calvert

International Jewellery London’s annual KickStart initiative is aimed at emerging UK designers looking to take their business to the next level.

10 up-and-coming design talents have been selected by the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) and IJL to have the unique opportunity to showcase their jewellery at IJL 2016 on a group stand in the prestigious Design Gallery.

Here, we meet 2016 KickStarter Emma Calvert, whose brand is aimed at intelligent and confident women who love bright, bold and vibrant jewellery.

Q: If you had to describe your brand in three words what words would you choose?

EC: Bold, vibrant, modern.

Q: How did you get started in the jewellery industry?

EC: I set up Emma Calvert in 2012 having worked within jewellery production, sales and design for brands such as Vivienne Westwood and most recently Rachel Jackson London. Through studying BA textile design at Central St. Martins I explored the concept of three-dimensional woven jewellery, which developed into my signature braid collection.

Q: Can you explain a little bit more about your design style, your key collection(s) and the type of customer you are designing for?

EC: By incorporating precious metals alongside modern materials, my design style combines bright, bold shapes with an attention to detail. My new collection ‘Memento’ encapsulates the essence of the urban city with its architectural style and graffiti inspired colours.

The Emma Calvert customer is intelligent and confident with her own innate style. She loves to tell the stories behind the things she owns.

Q: What are the most challenging aspects of launching and growing a new brand in 2016?

EC: Social media is great as it allows me to get my work out into a wider audience and keep in touch with my current customers but in turn it is challenging to stand out amongst so many talented designers. Consumers have so much choice available to them you need to be innovative in order to get noticed.

Q: If you had a mentor in the jewellery industry what would you ask them?

EC: I would ask “What is the most important aspect when launching a new collection?”
In the short term any advice or tips on how best to prepare for a trade show would be really helpful.

Q: What are you most looking forward to about exhibiting at IJL 2016 and what do you hope to achieve?

EC: I’m really looking forward to presenting my new collection at IJL to a range of retailers and press. I hope to make new connections and contacts with buyers in both UK and Europe in order to continue growing my business.

Q: Are there any types of retailers or stockists in particular that you are trying to attract?

EC: I’m trying to attract retailers such as concept stores, galleries, department stores and independent boutiques.

 

KickStart 2016: Meet CF Concept creative director Charlotte Scott Moncrieff

International Jewellery London’s annual KickStart initiative is aimed at emerging UK designers looking to take their business to the next level.

10 up-and-coming design talents have been selected by the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) and IJL to have the unique opportunity to showcase their jewellery at IJL 2016 on a group stand in the prestigious Design Gallery.

Here, we meet 2016 KickStarter Charlotte Scott Moncrieff, whose business CF Concept is on route to become the next big Scandi-cool brand…

Q: If you had to describe your brand in three words which words would you choose?

CSM: Scandinavian, Contemporary, Classic

Q: How did you get started in the jewellery industry?

CSM: I have always been interested in the creative world – art, photography, literature, film etc. I studied sculpture in Florence and worked on pieces from full length to busts but being surrounded by so many jewellers in the city I was intrigued and gradually minimised the sculpting and started working with wax and casting. For me it was a natural progression and a fluid process.

Q: Can you explain a little bit more about your design style, your key collection(s) and the type of customer you are designing for?

CSM: I try to incorporate a Danish design ethos into all of my collections and also integrate inspiration from my travels. The latest collection Serac – meaning ‘a pinnacle or ridge of ice on the surface of a glacier’ sought to bring the majestic icebergs of Greenland to life, with solid gold paying tribute to the grandeur of these natural beauties and diamonds reflecting their brilliance and tenacity.

I design for people who are curious and engender a sense of adventure and fun. My collections are modern; streamline with an edge which allows for delicate/subtle additions to an outfit but they can also be layered and paired to create a more emphatic look – everyone can create their own individual look.

Q: What are the most challenging aspects of launching and growing a new brand in 2016?

CSM: There are a lot of aspects to growing a business – so I would say that it’s the sheer amount of work involved that can be a challenge especially when you’re operating as a one-man band! I am passionate about driving CF Concept forward so I do love the challenges. Next up – making the IJL journey as productive and positive as possible!

Q: If you had a mentor in the jewellery industry what would you ask them?

I would love to ask them what makes their brand run and tick – is it there one particular thing they focus on or is it a culmination of many things? In the short term which aspect should I tackle first?

Q: What are you most looking forward to about exhibiting at IJL 2016 and what do you hope to achieve?

CSM: I am really excited to introduce my collections to such a wide industry audience – everyone who attends the show are interested in jewellery in one form or another. IJL’s Kickstarter provides an amazing platform with a great reach for new designers so making the most of that support and encouragement is the aim.

I hope to get the press excited about CF Concept and to attract the interest of buyers who would be willing to take on the brand. So until September I’ll be in full work mode to make sure I deliver the best brand experience possible.

Q: Are there any types of retailers or stockists in particular that you are trying to attract?

CSM: I would love to spread the CF Concept brand far and wide with reputable stockists – from large shops to smaller boutiques. Finding a department store in London to get behind CF Concept would be a dream – the city where it all happens – where CF is designed and made.

5 minutes with: Katrien Coenders, head of design, Nikki Lissoni

Nikki Lissoni has mastered the interchangeable jewellery concept, developing a legion of loyal fans thanks to its fashion-forward coin designs and emotion-led shopping experience.

We spoke to Katrien Coenders, head of design at Nikki Lissoni, to find out what makes the brand so successful…

Q: How would you describe the signature style of Nikki Lissoni?

KC: I create every piece with feminine beauty in mind. I also believe it is important that our jewellery should make you feel good about yourself when you wear it. My designs are unique allowing the wearer to personalise their look and express their own individuality. All our jewellery is fashionable, high quality and sophisticated.

Q: Who is the typical Nikki Lissoni customer, what sort of woman is she?

KC: She is independent and sophisticated with a sense of fashion and style. The Nikki Lissoni customer is not afraid to express herself or celebrate her femininity.

Q: The Nikki Lissoni ‘Show Your Emotions’ and emotion-led designs are really clever at tapping into the personalisation trend – do you find your customers are looking for jewellery that expresses their personalities?

KC: We believe every customer has a desire to promote their unique style and individualism. The meaningful messages and matching emotion cards have the power to make any woman feel beautiful and positive about herself.

Q: Can you highlight some of the brand’s best-selling pieces and explain what makes them popular among your customer base?

KC: The AW15 interchangeable coin bangle (pictured above right) which has an elegant and sophisticated look. The rose gold and pearl coin (pictured top left) is always popular, not only because of its on trend colour but also because of the timeless look of the pearl.

Another bestselling piece is the golden bangle with a dream catcher charm, which gives it a bohemian look.

B1114G19 kopie
The Dreamcatcher charm bangle

The mirrored glass earrings with Swarovski crystals are popular across all age groups, while the star motifs – presented in charms and coins – appeal to every imagination(pictured top centre).

AW15 product visual_0183 kopie
Mirrored glass earrings with Swarovski crystals.

Q: Are there any trends that you have noticed among Nikki Lissoni’s UK and Irish customer base?

KC: British and Irish women are definitely in love with rose gold jewellery, also the expandable bangle with charms is conquering throughout our markets at the moment.

Q: Will you be launching new collections for International Jewellery London in September and what should we look forward to?

KC: Yes, besides the beautiful winter collection 2016/2017 we will also launch a new kind of interchangeable jewellery.

See Nikki Lissoni at International Jewellery London 2016 at Olympia Grand from 4-6 September on Stand G20. 

Inspire Insights: How Bronzallure is reaching new heights in Europe

Bronzallure may have only been on the scene for two years, but it has swiftly developed a reputation for quality, fashion-forward designs and affordable prices.

Here, UK brand development manager, Jennie Higgins, explains more about the brand’s Italian origins, its best-selling ranges and its progress in the tricky-to-crack UK and Irish markets.

Q: Bronzallure is relatively new in the UK market, can you tell us a little bit more about its origins?

JH: Absolutely, Bronzallure has been in the UK for two years now and is experiencing a fantastic reception across the country. Bronzallure was launched in Italy in 2011, so it is still a relatively young brand. We have experienced phenomenal growth across Europe, and we now have over 3,000 retail partners in Europe.

Q: What can you tell us about the Italian manufacturer that creates Bronzallure jewellery, what is its heritage?

JH: Milor SpA is the family company behind Bronzallure and has been manufacturing jewellery for over 35 years in Italy. Milor is an international leader in the jewellery market and has decades of experience manufacturing for global brands, particularly in fine gold jewellery. However, this is the first time Milor has manufactured under its own brand name.

What sets Bronzallure apart from other fashion jewellery brands is that every piece is imagined, designed, created and shipped directly from Italy – something which is really quite unusual for such a competitively priced collection.

Milor is known for its’ expertise combined with creativity and innovation which is clearly evident in this collection. With an innovative one true rose gold colour Bronzallure jewellery sets a new standard in fashion jewellery. This combined with semi precious gemstones offers the customer a fresh and exciting alternative at affordable prices.

Bronzallure rings

Q: What are the brand’s best selling pieces and how often are new collections introduced?

JH: We release two collections each year; Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter, so there is always something new to attract the end consumers’ interest. Overall, our wrist wear collections continue to be very strong. Bronzallure is ideal for both gifting and self purchases. With our expansive range of natural stone colours, we are perfectly poised to reflect fashion colour trends.

Seasonally the more fashion inspired pieces tend to be very strong sellers and our classic designs are consistently popular – for example, our tennis bracelets which retail at £49 and our stacking rings in the region of £89 are the kind of bread-and-butter pieces which really keep traffic flowing.

Retail partners and end consumers are constantly surprised at the affordability of the collection, especially once they learn about the provenance and heritage of the brand.

Q: What sort of customers does Bronzallure attract?

JH: The beauty of Bronzallure is that it holds a wide and varied market appeal. Our pieces range from classically elegant and traditional designs such as the rolo and curb chain link styles through to contemporary and fashion inspired ranges – all of which are positioned at highly competitive price points, ranging from £49-£250.

The high quality of the manufacture ensures longevity so whether a shopper is looking for a seasonal fashion or a timeless piece, there is something to attract everyone.

Q: How many retail partners does the brand have in the UK right now, and what are your aims for growing this over the next few months?

JH: We currently have over 160 stores throughout the UK and Ireland and we are looking for additional partners to come on board – a large proportion of our growth is focused on supporting and nurturing the existing relationships through a series of support programs to ensure the in-store teams have all the tools they require to really grow the brand. What’s noticeable with these retailers is the year-on-year sales increases as the repeat customer sales kick in.

Q: What are your experiences of exhibiting at International Jewellery London, and how does the show benefit you?

JH: We have been exhibiting at IJL for three years now and this year we are delighted to be exhibiting on The Boulevard, which reflects the brand’s position in our other international exhibitions.

IJL is a fantastic platform for us to showcase the brand in an environment where the key players from across the country and abroad come to view the very best jewellery brands. It’s the ideal opportunity to present new and existing collections on a much grander scale than is possible out on the road, helping to improve awareness of our brand and build on the relationships with our current and prospective partners.

See Bronzallure at International Jewellery London 2016 from September 4-6th on Stand D41. 

Jennie Higgins