Jan 6, 2010

Dogeared Jewels & Gifts First 2010 Collection Launches New Spring Looks at Winter Trade Shows

Dogeared, a trendsetting fashion brand that creates handcrafted jewels and gifts in Los Angeles, will preview their latest line at select winter trade shows. For 19 years, Dogeared has designed beautiful, modern jewels in the spirit of love and kindness. The company’s passion for designing new styles to compliment fashion favorites and build on best sellers makes each season a natural progression from the last. The casual mix of classic, modern, and vintage elements has made Dogeared a global bestseller and a favorite of celebrities, stylists, and retailers alike.

“Our vision is to create beautiful things, and to make a hopeful and happy statement with what we put out into the world. We want people to feel good wearing or giving our jewelry,” explained Marcia Maizel-Clarke, Dogeared’s founder. “Our new line accomplishes this beautifully. We continue to draw inspiration from the things we believe in. We believe in karma. In being kind to the planet. In celebration, gratitude, and possibility. This season we have reinterpreted some of our classic styles and concepts, and our newest designs bring a new, sophisticated aesthetic to the line. “

Retailers, buyers, and editors can view the collection and wholesale catalog at NYC’s Market Week and Project Las Vegas, at the NY International Gift Fair, Atlanta International Market, and at LA Market.

Here are some highlights from the January 2010 collection:

100 Good Wishes is one of Dogeared’s most beloved collections, where each piece is fashioned with 100 jewels. The designers find limitless ways to reinvent this best-selling concept, and the result is a growing line of jewelry that not only looks gorgeous, but also inspires a wishful heart. Necklaces come in adjustable lengths with silk tie closures, and 100 rice pearls, gems, or gold-dipped beads. These can be worn simply and elegantly alone, or layered to create a multitude of looks.

The 100 Good Wishes Cuff is a statement in itself, and can stand out as the sole piece of jewelry to complete an outfit. Brass studs – 100 of them – are individually hammered into hand-stitched cuffs of chocolate, crème, tobacco, and black leather. The look is sophisticated and fashionable, takes jeans and a T-shirt to a new level of style, and acts as the perfect finishing touch to a little black dress.

Counter the Earthiness of leather with these colorful additions to the Dogeared line. The colors used this season balance vibrant, muted, metallic, and neutral hues; all designed to work together and create an exciting spring/summer color palette. New Goddess bracelets in six gem colors feature over-sized, custom, hand-cast charms… Stretchy bracelets that beg to be loaded up the arm, and mixed and matched with anything (especially each other). Handspun from recycled silk saris, Better Safe Than Sari bracelets are Earth-friendly and available either braided or in six softly twisted strands. From a single strand to armfuls of vivid colors, textures, and an eclectic array of materials, bracelet collections continue to be an important part of the accessory mix.

The new Nautical Collection is wonderful example of the lightness of Spring and the pleasures of Summer. Inspired by vintage jewel box charms, new castings include a seahorse, sailboat, and captain’s wheel, presented on colorful cards. A modern interpretation of classic style, with the California attitude Dogeared is famous for.

Unlocked, a custom-cast collection of key necklaces, captures the vintage look of skeleton keys, and incorporates modern detail and meaningful messages. Six different designs, each over two-inches tall, are available in silver-dipped, gold-dipped, and charcoal sterling-dipped, on chains and on leather. Each comes tagged with the name, Unlocked, and a thought particular to the design, including Love is the Key, Believing is the Key, Peace is the Key, and Hope is the Key.

The (Not to) Worry Beads collection continues to grow with new necklaces and bracelets. Combinations of wood beads, silk, and hand-cast charms create perfect foundations for layering. True to their name, these jewels are easy to wear and make great style effortless, graceful, and affordable. This neutral group mixes beautifully with Love Beads, a group which has also been expanded. New earrings, available in six gem colors, round out the Love Beads collection and complete the look.

Last season, Dogeared took the best selling Karma line in a new direction with Karma Luxe: Karma Redefined. For Spring, the designers have added a Triple Karma Ring necklace, a beautiful celebration of past, present, and future karma. And two versions of a belly button-length chain necklace come with karma rings either scattered or clustered through the length of the chain. The look is classic and sophisticated, whether worn alone or layered with other favorite necklaces.

Dogeared loves brides (and brides love Dogeared!) Jewelry to celebrate friends, family, and love is what Dogeared does best, and each new season is a new opportunity to create jewels and gifts for brides and wedding parties. On an ivory ribbon, boxed and carded, the glass Something Blue Heart is a sweet new twist on an old tradition, whether tucked into a garter or tied around a bouquet. The New Beginnings Hankie makes a charming gift for the mother of the bride, or anyone who might cry happy tears. And a Simple Sachet Pillow, filled with delicious smelling lavender makes a perfect bridal gift. New carded jewels include Loves Me, Loves Me Knot and Tying the Knot, featuring a sterling silver or gold-dipped bow charm. Pearls of… Happiness, Beauty, Friendship, and Love remain best selling, enduring mementos ideal for every wedding party. A new, more contemporary pendant pearl on waxed cotton cord with toggle closure is gorgeous on a bridesmaid and perfect with a t-shirt. Bridal gifts from Dogeared are designed for wearing beyond the big day, something every bridesmaid will love.

Merging divergent trends, and the mixing and layering of the new with the old, inspired the six new looks featured in the wholesale catalog. Garden Party, Modern Gypsy, Nautical, Happy Camper, Rocker, and Little Black Dress, tell stories that are happy combinations of preppy and elegant, bohemian and modern, flirty and flashy, playful and romantic. Styled to provide a glimpse of how Dogeared translates from the catalog into real life, these looks tell a story about the Dogeared lifestyle. The wearer’s tastes, moods, and ensembles are reflected by Dogeared’s balance of boldly radiant and muted colors, and widely differing textures.

Dogeared continues to respond to the marketplace’s demand for beautiful eco-friendly jewels and gifts. The Respun line of bags, journals, and jewelry rolls made from recycled t-shirts continues to expand and joins the Organic Canvas Collection. Other green additions include Earth Friendly Make A Wish bracelets and limited edition headbands made from repurposed leather.

“After 19 years in this business, Dogeared remains true to our values and our original dream… To create fashion jewelry and gifts that focus on joy and celebration,” continues Maizel-Clarke. “People look to us for beautiful things to wear and meaningful ways to give. We design in the spirit of living and giving. Each individual jewel, every new catalog and collection, is an expression of our love for what we do.”

As Dogeared expands their collections and catalog, they continue to decrease their environmental footprint. The catalog, cards, and packaging are printed on mixed sources, and the charms are cast from 100% recycled silver. The company works with suppliers and casters who share their environmental commitment, and all jewelry and gifts are produced in the most environmentally conscious way possible – by hand in their Southern California studios.

“Our talented artisans macramé, bead, braid, assemble, and produce all our custom-crafted pieces in our California studios. Each piece is made to order. My initial joy in making beautiful objects by hand has informed the way we do everything at Dogeared,” explains Maizel-Clarke.

The company mission of “putting good energy into the world one jewel at a time” inspires Dogeared Jewels & Gifts’ Spring 2010 collection. Beautiful fashion jewelry, gifts for Mom, for bridal, and for all of life’s most important individuals and occasions. Retail prices range from approximately $25 to $175. The collection is featured in a 134 page wholesale catalog that is viewable online at www.dogearedwholesale.com.