AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In a nod to women's
love of statement-making jewelry crafted by unique artisans,
jewelry retailer Zales launched its first-ever online platform –
Zales Designer Spotlight – that will showcase and market a rotating
line of up-and-coming fine jewelry designers from across the U.S.
The inaugural collection for Fall/Winter 2020 features
jewelry from women of diverse backgrounds – from a sixth-generation
jeweler and a lawyer-turned-artisan.
"We're so excited about launching our inaugural Designer
Spotlight platform in time for the holiday season to make it easier
for our customers to find fresh, new designs that speak to their
individuality and style," said Jamie
Singleton, President Signet Jewelers. "This platform
represents innovation on two fronts – it's both a groundbreaking
approach for us to bring jewelry to market, and it's also a way
that we can help independent, maverick designers promote their
incredible pieces to a national audience by tapping into our
significant fan base."
The inaugural Fall/Winter 2020 Collection is the result of
Zales' call in July to emerging fine jewelry designers to apply for
the program. Zales conducted broad outreach to jewelry
organizations and designs schools to promote the opportunity. The
program includes helping emerging designers by leveraging the
successful Zales.com e-Commerce platform and mentoring them
through the fine points of being a successful retailer. The
designers' collections will grow through phased drops throughout
the Fall/Winter 2020 season.
Whether these designers are pursuing a new creative dream career
or following a multi-generational family legacy, each designer has
a unique story to tell. Meet our five designers for the inaugural
season:
The winners are:
- Au Xchange – Based in San
Francisco, Azra Mehdi, the
founder of Au Xchange, leans heavily on her Indian heritage to
provide women with the opportunity to design and purchase their own
jewelry. Leading with her passion for gold, Azra offers pieces that
inspire and empower. "We are all unique, multi-faceted individuals
and jewelry is merely the spice you add to enhance and highlight
who you already are and what you already have," Azra explains, "As
Au Xchange evolves, I plan to integrate art, architecture and
language themes both from my own culture (Indian/Middle Eastern)
and my husband's culture (Jamaican/Panamanian)". Au Xchange will be
the first Designer Spotlight collection to launch on Zales.com
starting November 12.
- LexiMazz – Based in New
York, Alexis Mazza is the
founder and designer of LexiMazz. Her experience as a
sixth-generation jeweler and education at the Fashion Institute of Technology helped her become a
two-time award-winning designer. Her collections are deliberately
designed so that they can be worn together, mixed and matched,
stacked, layered, and worn in any setting while executing
confidence, beauty, and grace. "I want my consumers to feel like
themselves, but a fabulous version of themselves," Mazza stated
about her designs. LexiMazz will be available on Zales.com starting
November 18.
- Elliot Young – Based in
Los Angeles, mothers Jessica Elliot and Jennifer Young set out to create a company that
offers products to make people feel great while giving back to
their local youth crises that are affecting children today,
including homelessness, education, hunger, health challenges and
more. Elliot Young partners with
charities that advocate for, support and empower youth "One
person CAN make a difference. One person affects the next person,
and our company gives people an easy way to make that difference,"
states Jessica and Jennifer. Elliot
Young will be available on Zales.com starting November 24.
- Sarah Graham Metalsmithing – Based in Aspen, Colo., Sarah
Graham incorporates innovative materials with her
exceptional design sense creating jewelry that is unlike anything
else: organic and textural, feminine yet substantial, unique yet
universal in its appeal. The natural inspiration behind
the jewelry – whether cast directly from Jacaranda Pods
and decayed wood or rendered in wax from a microscopic view of
single cell marine organisms – gives her designs a texture and feel
that makes them infinitely wearable. Each year Sarah raises
funds for Namaste Direct, a non-profit organization that makes
micro loans to women entrepreneurs in Central America by holding an all-day jewelry
demonstration and luncheon for supporters. Sarah's statement making
jewelry is exciting and elegant. This, along with Sarah's unique
combination of business and retail experience, traveling, a
rigorous apprenticeship and her dedication to providing amazing
customer service to her clients led her to where she is today.
Sarah Graham Metalsmithing will be available on Zales.com on
January 13.
The Diamond store plans to continue with the Designer Program
application process in the Spring/Summer 2021 season to continue
helping support small businesses and innovating how it brings
jewelry to market.
About Zales The Diamond Store®
Zales The Diamond Store® is a leading brand name in fine jewelry
retailing. Zales is operated by Signet Jewelers Limited, the
world's largest retailer of diamond jewelry. Signet Jewelers
operates over 3,300 stores. For additional information on Zales,
visit www.Zales.com or follow us on Facebook
(http://www.facebook.com/Zales), Twitter®
(www.twitter.com/ZalesJewelers), YouTube
(https://www.youtube.com/Zales), Pinterest
(www.pinterest.com/ZalesJewelers) and Instagram
(www.instagram.com/ZalesJewelers).
PR CONTACT
Lividini & Co.
Signet@Lividini.com
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SOURCE Zales