The LA Fashion District has got a new tradeshow. COEUR, launched by Co-Founder/Creative Director Henri Myers of eM Productions, held its first show in the district’s Cooper Building this week perfectly coinciding with the Spring 2012 LA Fashion Market. This trade only event gave buyers already attending Market Week in the district a brand new, curated catalog of women’s fashion and gift & home accessories that spotlights jewelry, handbags and footwear. The show boasted exceptional designs from internationally respected designers who have a dedicated vision to personal inspiration and keeping production in the USA.
We were amazed at the designs by Gilda Grey, an accessories line manufactured and produced in Echopark. This collection is known for its art deco inspired pieces that give a nod to the 60’s but is modernized enough for everyday wear. The line is also kind to the environment and animals as it uses faux suede and naturally fallen feathers. Shoppers can purchase Gilda Grey at Anthropologie, Free People and at the end of October, at the brand’s website.
Another jewelry line reminiscent of the past was TomTom Jewelry. Made in Downtown Los Angeles and North Hollywood by formally trained architect Elena Howell, TomTom Jewelry is designed using digital fabrication techniques such as 3D printing and waterjet + laser jet cutting. The line's statement signature piece is the Chevron Aura crystal necklace which is inspired from the 1970’s.
Body jewelry received a spotlight at the COEUR show. Bliss Lau, a previous handbag designer with a degree in apparel design from Parsons School of Design, has her own line of body jewelry under her namesake. All of the jewelry is created and designed three-dimensionally using traditional garment draping techniques. Her jewelry is found at Heist in Venice and Fred Segal in Santa Monica.
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| Photo via http://blisslau.com/ |
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| Innocent Chain + Suspension Brac - photo via http://blisslau.com/ |
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| Cage dress + Zelda Bra - photo via http://blisslau.com/ |
COEUR Tradeshow was truly a one-stop-shop in all matters of accessories because they also included unique decorations for the home. Blithe and Bonny is a family run business based in Santa Cruz, CA that produces hand-crafted goods. Their signature item is the scented soy wax candle which is made from natural soy wax with custom phthalate-free fragrances and lead-free wicks. Not only are they sustainable, but they don’t lose out on the aesthetics either. The 40-hour candle comes in an attractive glass container and in a amazing selection of scents like grapefruit, lavender and jasmine and rose. Our favorite was the honey almond.
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| Blithe and Bonny scented candles and soap bars |
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| Bio-degradable dish soap packaged in repurposed wine bottles |
Sustainability was also an important principle at COEUR tradeshow which proved how unique the craftsmanship and inspiration behind each design was. One example is Directional Motivation, a “rugged meets refined” handbag line made of reclaimed army canvas and deadstock materials. The designer, Naomi Strauss, found the materials from a military surplus store and retained the originality of the materials (the stitching and name tags) used to produce each bag which shows signs of their travels. Strauss also keeps her manufacturing and production in Downtown Los Angeles and the hand-dying done in Los Angeles. Her handbags are sold at each of Gap’s 1969 Stores: 109 S. Roberston Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90048 and 513 Broadway New York, NY 10012.
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| Doby Bucket - photo via http://www.directionalmotivationshop.com/ |
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| Italian Tote - photo via http://www.directionalmotivationshop.com/ |
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| Sling - photo via http://www.directionalmotivationshop.com/ |
A beautiful jewelry line truly created out of inspiration and adventure is Flutter. Flutter is a range of hand-made costume jewelry inspired by its designer, Jill Golden’s, travels. Each season, Golden takes inspiration from her far-flung travels, translating her experience from beautiful places such as Paris, Morocco and Barcelona into her signature chain-wrapped and plated jewelry. The jewelry’s style is pretty but still edgy, timely and not trendy as Golden calls the “flutter” vibe. You can get your “flutter” vibe at Flutter’s online website.
For Gabriela Artigas, the world at large is what inspires her creativity and the smallest details of it find their way into her designs. Made in Los Angeles, Gabriela Artigas is a jewelry line that balances between delicateness and edginess. For example, her 14K alloy rings are structured, hard-edged in shape, but delicate in color as they come in bronze and rose gold. Additionally, Artigas’s line is a breath of fresh air as she is constantly reinventing her line. She rarely continues production of a certain piece after its initial run so we’re excited to see what she has in store for the next COEUR tradeshow!
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| The 14K alloy ring in rose gold |
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| 14K Knot Ring - photo via http://www.gabrielaartigas.com/ |
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| 14K GF Faceted Square - photo via http://www.gabrielaartigas.com/ |
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| CL01 Snake + Black Chain - photo via http://www.gabrielaartigas.com/ |
COEUR Tradeshow will be back again at the Cooper Building in March 2012 for LA Fashion Market. We will keep you updated on further dates and highlights about the next COEUR show!