Monica Botkier
A former fashion photographer and native of New York City, Monica designed and produced her first handbag collection in 2003, inspired by her urban chic and busy downtown Manhattan lifestyle. Her creations garnered immediate cult status.
Creating a niche in the market, where there was a void, Monica has created an approachable designer brand that marries luxury with utility. Every accessory features custom detailing, innovation and quality, while focusing on functionality.
Botkier handbags boast a downtown edge — a certain seduction factor. There is something very exciting about hardware and leather; this synergy creates a direct and easy way to express oneself. You can take risks wearing a Botkier accessory, and push the envelope daily.
In July 2007, Monica was recognized for her contributions to the world of accessory design and became a member of the esteemed Council of Fashion Designers of America.
A favorite among celebrity fashion icons, Botkier handbags have been spotted in tow of many of the most recognized women in the world: Angelina Jolie, Heidi Klum and Kate Bosworth, to name a few.
Dana David Collection
The Dana David Collection redefines modern luxury. Inspired by graphics and architecture, the collection marries bold, sculptural design with classic elegance and attention to detail.
Always passionate about fine jewelry, Dana Melnick began designing her own pieces, because she was unable to find jewelry that she could relate to on a personal level — substantial pieces that reflected her passion for great design, while being fashionable and hip enough for everyday wear. The overwhelming number of compliments and inquiries she received on these pieces led her husband, David, to suggest that she make her jewelry available to other women. The two partnered to create The Dana David Collection.
Dana began her career as a graphic designer and, later, a creative director. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Syracuse University and studied gemology and jewelry design at the GIA Institute in New York City. A self-confessed “design junkie,” she is passionate about new and interesting design in any medium — graphics, fashion, architecture and furniture — and devours design and fashion magazines. This graphic design background clearly influences her jewelry, especially evident in the Graffiti Collection, which includes graphic icons and scribble designs in gold and diamonds. These pieces could have easily been lifted right off the printed pages of a design publication, but making them into jewelry gives them an entirely new dimension that is fresh and modern, yet luxurious.
The Dana David Collection expresses the individuality and self-confidence of the women who wear it. Each statement piece reflects personal style and edgy femininity. Says Dana, “This is the jewelry that I like to wear — jewelry ‘sportswear’ that goes with my wardrobe and lifestyle.”
Meticulously hand-crafted using the finest materials, Dana’s pure shapes and satin finishes are designed to enhance the natural beauty and elegance of the metal and stones. A lover of the graphic shape of stars since childhood, each piece is signed with her trademark logo star.
Foley + Corinna
A love of fashion brought Dana Foley and Anna Corrina together by chance. Dana, an aspiring playwright, was selling her own, original designs and hand-dyed creations at the flea market when she met Anna Corinna, who was selling vintage clothing at the same market. Dana became a customer along with designers such as Donna Karen, Ralph Lauren and Anna Sui, among others. The two quickly became friends — and with a complimentary aesthetic — soon there after, successful business partners.
In 1999 Dana Foley and Anna Corinna opened the doors of their Foley + Corinna boutique on New York’s Lower East Side, and their handbags have since become a fashion staple among Hollywood A-listers and style setters from across the country and around the globe. The well-loved City Tote and Clutch, Jetsetter Jr., Bender, Tourista and Market have become classics, and every “It” girl must have at least one to satisfy her style craving.
Going bicoastal in December of 2007, Foley + Corinna opened a second retail store in Los Angeles on Melrose. Foley + Corinna can also be found at high end department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and Saks, and select US boutiques including Planet Blue, Calypso, Intermix — and now Zoey Bloom.
Hammitt Los Angeles
Hammitt Los Angeles was born in 2003 from a girl's need (and desire) to have the chicest handbag at a BBQ in Beverly Hills. The infamous clutch created and worn that day by Stef Hammitt, the designer and namesake behind the brand, resulted in a complete collection of classic and cool handbags in a variety of shapes and sizes.
In her twenties, Stef’s fondness for high fashion first led her to reside in London, model throughout Europe and land a successful career as a wardrobe stylist in her hometown of Los Angeles. In 2003, life experience and divine inspiration became interwoven and Hammitt Los Angeles was born.
A California girl at heart, Stef seeks to blend the sensibilities of the Milan, Paris and New York runways with a look unique to the boulevards and beaches of Los Angeles. Hammitt Los Angeles features the most luxurious Italian leathers in gorgeous shades such as brandy and cognac. Other materials include croc suede and cobra snake patent. The result is a mix of edgy yet wearable, classic and cool bags — a signature look that has the everyday woman being stopped in the streets. Hammitt handbags are also avorite among celebrity fashion icons: Angelina Jolie, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Kelly Ripa, to name a few. Hammitt handbags are certainly destined to gain prestige, distinction and appeal with time.
Kevia
Kevia Jeffrey-West's exposure to the world of fashion began at age five, while spending hours looking over her mother's clothing sketches and playing with fabric swatches. Over time she developed an eye for color, contrast, texture, and detail — skills she now uses to design her jewelry. All of Kevia’s jewelry is handcrafted using precious and semi-precious stones, 18K gold, 22K gold vermeil, and silver findings. Her design focus is on meticulous metal work and custom-cut gemstones.
Kevia's jewelry is influenced by her travels and ongoing exploration of mixed media art. She is an avid organic gardener and often draws on the natural world for inspiration. Kevia has lived and designed in Africa and, most recently, in the United Kingdom, where she studied Etruscan, Baroque and Medieval metal smith techniques. Her jewelry is sold in exclusive boutiques and department stores in more than 20 countries.
Claudia Lobao
Born and raised in Brazil, Claudia has an extensive background in the arts, including pottery, paintings and music. She focused her talents in the fashion field by working with some of Brazil's top designers. While visiting New York City, she met and married her future business partner, Paulo.
Moving to San Antonio, TX from New York City gave Claudia and Paulo time to develop their company and brand. Within two years of starting their company, Claudia Lobao jewelry was a staple on ABC’s Desperate Housewives. According to the show’s stylists, no other brand of jewelry has been represented more on the show than Claudia Lobao.
Marcia Moran
Marcia Moran was born, raised and educated in Brazil. Inspired by her father, she became a dentist in the early 90's and started her own dental practice in Sao Paulo in 1994. Still, she harbored a desire to work with fashion and jewelry. In 2003, Marcia moved to Los Angeles to make her dream come true.
Marcia's eye-catching, contemporary jewelry is made of brushed 18kt gold- or rhodium-plated metals and stunning semi-precious stones. As a bridge between the spectacular resources of Brazil and the world of fashionable women who enjoy extraordinary pieces, Marcia's jewelry helps women look fabulous, but not fancy ... feel rich, yet reasonable ... dress spectacularly, yet still simple.
Robert Lee Morris
Considered one of America’s most influential jewelry and accessory designers, Robert Lee Morris creates jewelry that illuminates the body and nourishes the soul. An effortless fusion of the spiritual and the sensual, his unique body of work reflects the forefront of jewelry as wearable art. Long noted for his distinctive fusion of primal forms, hand workmanship and cutting-edge sensibility, his pieces are enthusiastically sought by connoisseurs of high fashion around the world.
Robert understands what makes a woman beautiful and unique, and he has collaborated with designers such as Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld, Michael Kors and Donna Karan. His designs draw their inspiration from nature, myth and fantasy and have been described as both “cerebral” and “intuitive.” His distinctive style is one of strong, graceful shapes that call forth the profound emotional responses that we all feel to the artifacts of ancient and aboriginal cultures from around the world. Inspired by pieces as varied as bronze-age spears, early Chinese jade axes, and African tribal ironwork, Morris’ imagination transforms the suggestions of these evocative objects into works all his own — superb ornaments that seem to speak to us from another, very distant time and place.
Over the years, Robert has developed his own distinct shapes. Each collection captures the strength and grace of liquid geometry that has been his signature since 1970. His pieces can be seen at his gallery in New York’s Soho, in the high-fashion collections of Donna Karan, and in select jewelry stores throughout the United States.
Margo Morrison New York
Elegant, edgy and always in style, Margo Morrison New York is the jewelry of choice for hip, sophisticated women worldwide. Margo’s collections are carried in exclusive boutiques and department stores throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, England, South Africa and Mexico. Editors of Japan’s top fashion magazine, Madame Figaro, recently voted her "one of the top 15 most exciting jewelry designers in the world.” Her pieces have appeared on the pages of Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, People, Lucky and dozens of other publications.
Margo draws on a rich cultural background of extensive travel and sixteen years as a classical pianist. Combining semi-precious stones and pearls with Swarovski crystals, she finishes each piece with toggles cast from organic natural shapes. The result is a refined, sophisticated look that has been described as "visual music."
Julia Roberts, Sharon Stone, Brooke Shields and Gwyneth Paltrow are part of Margo's growing celebrity clientele.
Danielle Nicole
Born and raised in Maryland, handbag designer Danielle Nicole DiFerdinando's passion for design began at a very young age. She concentrated on accessories; first designing neckties, and ultimately finding herself focusing on handbag design.
In 2006, at the age of 19, Danielle launched Danielle Nicole Handbags. By summer 2007, the cosmetic buyer at a major department store asked her to design a line of luxury cosmetic bags. Soon, the handbag buyers were quick to notice the success of the cosmetic bag line and asked her to design a collection, making Danielle one of the youngest designers in the business.
Danielle's collection of luxury handbags -- characterized by crushed patent leather and mixing Italian embroidery fabric with lambskin leathers -- sets her apart from other contemporary handbag designers, creating luxury bags with a fresh, fashion forward look. Her handbags can be found in high end department stores such as Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales, and Holt Renfrew, and numerous specialty stores across the United States.
