The FINANCIAL — Jewellery is everywhere on the international catwalks and the bohemian look is what people and especially women all over the world are caring about, no matter whether they’re celebrities or ordinary housewives.
That’s the common truth about women on fashion catwalks and housewives in the kitchen. Luxury or affordable – jewellery is an essential accessory in a woman’s wardrobe.
Jewellery fashion has its own catwalk at various exhibitions. This year the International Opal and Jewellery Design Awards Association (IOJDAA) have announced two exciting new categories for the 2009 awards.
The first is ‘Haute Joaillerie’ which is to jewellery what Haute Couture is to fashion. It is the creation of technically-meticulous pieces that embody pure luxury and sophistication.
The second category is ‘Fantasy’ which opens up entries for the more outrageous, quirky and bizarre pieces.
When it comes to jewellery, even the weirdest things could happen. Under techniques to be demonstrated by a group of artists, mothers’ own breast milk will be turned into jewellery, with the first range of milk necklaces, bracelets and other ornaments set to go on display later this year.
The jewellery is made by boiling human milk mixed with vinegar. This causes the casein protein in the milk to harden into a plastic, which can then be painted and moulded into any shape, reports the Telegraph.
The truth for Georgia is that local women willing to acquire high quality international brands are able to visit the Swarovski store, a brand which turns out to be much concerned about health issues as well.
For Swarovski, the worldwide leading manufacturer of cut crystal, it has by now become a tradition to support breast cancer awareness with its Pink Hope promotion. Every year in international breast cancer awareness month October Swarovski introduces specially designed jewellery pieces and donates 20% of the revenue to cancer leagues and anti-cancer societies.
The first Swarovski boutique run by Luxury Interior Ltd. was opened in Tbilisi at the end of October 2007.
“It gave us the opportunity to show our customers the whole range of Swarovski products in Tbilisi for the first time,” Katrin Granderath, Swarovski Communication Service, told The FINANCIAL earlier.
Luxury Interior Ltd. started offering Swarovski jewellery in October 2007.
“The opening of the first Swarovski boutique run by Luxury Interior Ltd. in Georgia in October 2007 was a great highlight. Thus, Swarovski is able to inspire even more people with its sparkling products,” said Granderath.
Ukraine is joining Pink Hope for the first time in 2008. The proceeds of the promotion will be donated to the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL).
This year Swarovski’s commitment is expressed by three specially designed Pink Hope jewellery pieces in limited editions. All of them in pink – the colour linked with breast cancer – they express their bearer’s solidarity with breast cancer patients.
In Ukraine, the Pink Hope jewellery 2008 will be available from Swarovski Partner Boutiques starting 1 October, 2008 until stock is depleted. Prices are UAH 1,550 for the limited edition Nirvana ring, UAH 760 for the Evita bracelet and UAH 690 for the Love pendant. 20% of the retail price of each piece sold will be donated to the Association of European Cancer Leagues to support breast cancer awareness activities.
113 years ago, in 1895, Daniel Swarovski I, a Bohemian inventor and visionary, moved to the village of Wattens, Tyrol in Austria, with his newly-invented machine for cutting and polishing crystal jewellery stones. From these beginnings, which revolutionised the fashion world, Swarovski has grown to be the world’s leading producer of precision-cut crystal, for fashion, jewellery and more recently lighting, architecture and interiors.
Today, the company, still based in Wattens, family-owned and run by 4th and 5th generation family members, has a global reach, with some 22,000 employees, a presence in over 120 countries and a turnover in 2007 of EUR 2.56 billion.
As for gold, the ancient and luxury precious metal, Georgians have a decent place to refer to. Zarapxana, being acquired by Gold Invest in 2000, operates 4 stores today and has set new advance standards in gold production.
“During last year the best-sellers were gold probe of 750 and 585. Classic model accessories are preferred,” Nino Enukidze, Zarapxana’s Marketing Manager, told The FINANCIAL.
According to her, the Zarapxana website will soon be renewed and will offer online shopping services.
“Online shopping has become much demanded in Georgia and we expect online sale to occupy a significant part in Zarapxana’s overall sales,” noted Enukidze.
In Enukidze’s words, the best demanded are gold accessories with precious stones. Copper and silver jewellery made in accordance with Georgian motives are also very popular. The cheapest jewellery is made of silver.
The exclusive order service is a big success at the company.
Zarapxana’s shares on the local gold market are 15-20%.
“Gold sold at the Georgian gold exchange is not checked and is not inspected by experts hence it’s often low quality, irrelevant of the price. This type of production has no power to compete with the high quality offers by Zarapxana as in addition, we provide our customers with a guarantee,” stated Enukidze.
As Enukidze noted, the overall amount of imported diamonds made GEL 800,000, 660 in total carats.
The Mtskheta collection as well as the kids’ collection will be finished by autumn and in September these collections will be sold at Zarapxana brand shops.
Written by Kate Tabatadze.
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