Couture! The most prestigious fine jewelry show in the world.
I’m still pinching myself that I got accepted to Couture!! It’s like a little dream come true, to be accepted into this spectacular world of fine jewelry. Let’s be honest, it’s a very intimidating place to be, but then again, so is fashion!
To be completely honest, I made this collection of fine jewelry in my 30s with women in mind and only women as self purchasers. I wanted to create something really precious but at the same time attainable. Affordable is a four letter word in the fine jewelry business. Attainable sounds better no? But tbh I just wanted every woman to own a chain ring if she wanted one. That’s really where the whole collection started. No one in the industry took me seriously because I was selling handmade little rings for $200 a pop and kept on getting asked how it’s even possible to sell them at that price. I was told by Barneys that I needed to raise all my prices by at least 25% to make it, when I first started. Well, I guess proof is in the pudding because I’m still standing after 11 years.
Couture is a milestone of sorts. Everyone talks about impostor syndrome and I suppose I have a little bit of that. I never thought I would get here tbh. Who would have guessed a collection of chain rings could grow and develop into collections of this magnitude. I mean, I’ll be showing in the same space as some of the designers I admire!
This trade-show selects only the best designers from all over the world to showcase. There are two sections for designers. The new designers go in the hallway of the main ballroom at the Wynn hotel in Vegas. This is a great starting point for any new designers who want to get in-front of buyers from Bergdorf’s to Le Bon Marche. It is THE trade-show to be in. I thought I’d end up there since this is my first show, but NO! I’m in the main ballroom and I got a corner booth…fainting.
Being picked and accepted into Couture is a big deal, but the costs and the logistics of this event is another level. Every single piece of jewelry has to be shipped via armed guard over to the Wynn. Each brand exhibiting has to design and execute every single detail of their booths, down to the carpet within the booth and even the electrical cords. I don’t know how I’d do this without a logistics team back in Shanghai. It’s an exorbitant amount of time and money dedicated to this one show. No pressure at all!
I’m heading into my first Couture show with no expectations. I just want to enjoy the moment of having arrived! I’m going to take you on this journey with me so stay tuned!