Articles and News
Brand News: Carelle Certified Made In NY; Imagine Bridal Launches New Website; Shinola In The News January 13, 2016 (0 comments)
Carelle Is First Jewelry Brand To Be Certified “Made In NY”
New York, NY—Family-owned fine jewelry brand Carelle is the first fine jewelry brand and among the first companies overall to be recognized under the City of New York’s “Made in NY” distinction.
“Made in NY” is an initiative of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. It recognizes and celebrates New York City’s fashion sector by supporting the influential designers and brands that are based here. Carelle’s certification under this initiative means its jewelry meets the highest standards of quality, design, and craftsmanship, and that its operations are fully based in New York, helping artisan careers thrive in America. Watch a video of Carelle’s movable ring here.
Carelle also has been recognized for its business practices by the Responsible Jewellery Council, the American Gem Society, the Women’s Jewelry Association, and the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The “Made in NY” certification is the final validation of Carelle’s commitment to its product, its craftspeople, and its city.
Carelle's advertising features the "Made In NY" emblem.
Chana Regev founded Carelle in 1977 as a freelance designer and private label manufacturer, devoted to creating fine jewelry that is comfortable to wear and expertly crafted to withstand the test of time and be passed down to the next generation. But in 2007 Regev’s designs and the Carelle brand as a whole were taken to the next level by the vision and dedication of marketing director Brooke Tivol McGrath. Tragically, 28-year-old McGrath passed away in 2011 from a rare blood infection and in her memory every piece of Carelle jewelry carries the signature leaf motif that she created for the brand.
As a woman who self-started in the industry, Regev now honors McGrath with the WJA-Carelle Grant. Awarded annually by the Women’s Jewelry Association, the grant is meant to empower women starting on their own in the jewelry industry and aid them in reaching their goals and aspirations. The grant is a tribute both to McGrath’s character and Regev’s support of designers looking to make a name for themselves.
Today, Carelle is run by Regev with her husband Eyal and their three sons, all committed to expanding the reach of their brand nationwide through independent, family-operated jewelry stores, as well as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale’s flagship location in New York.
From start to finish, the details that go into creating Carelle jewelry—from the early stage of selecting stones to the final touch of laser engraving every piece of jewelry—happens in New York City. Carelle’s home-based operations and commitment to its employees are symbolic of the American dream, says Regev, with the “Made in NY” certification a final touch on her vision.
Imagine Bridal Launches New Website
Great Neck, NY—Imagine Bridal has revealed a new digital look fro 2016, with the launch of a new website that offers enhanced features for both retailers and customers.
“Our business has been skyrocketing, particularly after our partnership with Forevermark was announced,” said Imagine Bridal Brian Hakimian, co-president. “To keep up with the demand for information, we developed and launched a brand new website for the trade. The new site offers an enhanced user experience, and includes new product information and news about our business and our collections.”
The website, imaginebridal.com, features an expanded style catalog, current advertising campaigns for retail use, and a store locator function. In addition, retailers can find out about upcoming Imagine Bridal events, including scheduled appearances at trade shows. To date, Imagine Bridal will be at CBG Orlando, January 25 – 27, and Centurion Scottsdale, January 31 – February 2. They are also slated to attend the Forevermark Forum, April 4 – 7.
At the end of 2015, the brand became an authorized Forevermark manufacturer. The new Imagine Bridal for Forevermark Collection will be unveiled at CBG and the Centurion Jewelry Show. The collection with feature unique designs available exclusively to authorized Forevermark retailers.
A view of Imagine Bridal's homepage, with a rotating center image.
Imagine Bridal has been providing jewelry retailers with heirloom-quality engagement, wedding, and anniversary rings for more than 40 years. Founded by Fred F. Hakimian, Imagine Bridal is now in its second generation of ownership, led by sons Rodney and Brian. The brand works with more than 200 top independent U.S. retailers.
For more information about Imagine Bridal, its ad co-op program, contact Simon Hakimian or Raymond Hak, (800) 869-0708 or mail@imaginebridal.com.
Shinola Featured in New York Times
Detroit, MI—Shinola, the brand that’s reintroducing Americans to home-grown watches, lauded by former president Bill Clinton, and hailed as a champion in the resurgence of Detroit, was written up in a lengthy—though not entirely flattering—profile in the New York Times last week.
The article doesn’t criticize the watches themselves or indeed any other Shinola products, which are credited with being well-made, good quality, responsibly sourced, and certainly with helping to provide employment in a much-needed part of the country. The brand makes bicycles, leather goods, and more.
What the article does do is take potshots at the brand’s street cred and whether the authenticity that’s made it a poster child for artisanal Millennial hipsters and the Detroit renaissance is, well, authentic. Its founder Tom Kartsotis is neither from Detroit nor a Millennial (at 56, he’s a Boomer). He and his brother, Kosta, founded Fossil watches 24 years ago in Dallas, TX, and built it into a multimillion-dollar empire.
But Kartsotis gets it: even if the choice to situate the brand in Detroit was carefully considered and not organic, he says his intention was to create jobs, not necessarily to create a watch company, despite his Fossil pedigree. And those jobs he’s created (more than 500 to date), along with the homegrown sourcing of materials for all his various product lines, do create the backstory Millennials crave.