Origins Passion and Beliefs Fair was unbelievable

My apologies for my lack of recent blog posts, I've been recovering from our trip to Italy and the Origins Passion and Beliefs Fair.  As my blog title says, it was unbelievable that the NJAL team along with Fiera de Vicenza got 100 designers to Italy and organized such a beautiful and awesome fair.  This really was the first of it's kind, bridging the digital world of exposing emerging designers to press, buyers, bloggers and the public.

I'll tell you that I was extremely nervous and worried that I would be out of my league and that the other designers would be aloof and a bit snooty, however it was completely the opposite.  I met the most warm, open and sweet people and made life long friends.  At the end of the 4 days, NJAL organized a roundtable and each designer expressed some words and we all laughed and cried and felt that it was a camp of sorts.  

I feel so blessed and lucky to have had the opportunity to participate in the fair, I made some great contacts, made some good press (got featured on Vogue Accessory FB page) and acquired some one of a kind fashion and jewelry! Okay, I splurged but it was SO worth it!

Below are just some of the photos I snapped on my phone (reason for the low quality).  I'll be posting more images next week.  

The NJAL team on the first day giving us details.

My good friend Ioana Ciolacu's booth, really obsessed with her pieces.  

Jojo Marguerite from New Zealand, her pieces were intricately beautiful. 

Mareunrol's maquette is just as exquisite as their work.

The most bright and colorful booth at the Origins Fair

Just some of the amazing layout of the fair, it was so modern and chic!

Part of my booth.  Fiera de Vicenza provided all of the furniture/displays in our booths,
with the exception of added pieces.

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Oh Coco Chanel, how I admire thee

Early this evening, while reading through the Wall Street Journel's, Spring 2011 Design issue, I was reminded, once again of my adoring and utmost respect for Coco Chanel. She was, in my opinion (perhaps there were earlier), first womens' fashion designer.

Coco made a movement, for women to dress in casual outdoors wear but also many other fashion 'taboo's, such as wearing costume jewelry instead of real gemstone jewelry in the daytime. She was a pioneer in so many ways. As you can imagine, I have a bit of a girl crush on her, one of my many crushes. It's so important to have role models and women to admire and know that if they made it, I too can make it!

Okay, so back to the other reason why I'm posting this; the WSJ article also writes about how Karl Lagerfield went back to, and employed, the custom embroiderers, shoemakers, jewelers and textile artists of Paris to work on this Meteiers D'Art design collection. What a revelation and celebration for Lagerfield to return or perhaps concretely employ of true artisans to create the line.

About a year ago I watched several movies on Coco Chanel, her life and experience of being a fashion designer. She was so resolute and unyielding in her belief of true fashion and art. She never married and had several passionate relationships; you can see the wistfulness but also deep dedication to her art.

It's ironic yet amazing that I've met women in my own field of metalsmithing, just like Coco.

Well, thanks for reading and hope you had a great weekend!
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