Forbes - 'Nouvellebox Presents 20 Independent Jewelry Designers'
Some jewels embody such poetry and beauty that they become instantly important as they make people look more stylish, graceful, or at peace in the world. Directed by Darren Hildrow and Valery Demure, the London-based Nouvellebox jewelry showroom is presenting jewels that embody this kind of power from 20 different U.K., European, Asian and the USA designers during Paris Fashion Week from September 28 until October 3rd. The Nouvellebox showroom at 9 rue d’Anjou is situated in Paris’s chic and leafy 8th arrondissement.
According to company founder Darren Hildrow, “Nouvellebox is offering independent, design-driven jewels that embody strong luxury values such as rare design, superb materials and master artisanship.” Although he’s too modest to say so, his and Demure’s Paris Fashion Week event promises to be a blockbuster. Presenting 20 highly refined, design-driven and fashion-forward brands in one luxurious space is quite a coup. As champagne will be served, a bubbly mood will help buyers align with important jewelry lines. “It’s a great time to celebrate surviving the pandemic,” Hildrow observes, with an ironically raised eyebrow visible via Whats App video.
For their first ever Paris presentation, NouvelleBox is showing the color-drenched adornments of Milan-based Bea Bongiasca. “Bea’s jewelry is so delightfully enticing that you wonder whether to eat it or wear it,” Hildrow observes. Regarding the refined designs of Beirut’s Joanna Dahdah, he says: “Joanna captures the multi-faceted beauty and culture of Lebanon in her elegant jewels.” While there are boldly expressive jewels by Greek-born Danai Giannelli, the super-stoned and sculptural chic adornments of Beirut-based Nada Ghazal, Hildrow maintains, “are sensual and organic works of art that feel great on the body.” Then there is the intriguing first fine jewelry range from the Royal Mint’s 886 brand, designed by Creative Director Dominic Jones. “Established in 7th century England,” Hildrow explains, “the Royal Mint is producing artistic, gender-fluid jewelry with gold reclaimed from obsolete electronic devices. It’s a very cool collection, and some of the pieces in it are inscribed with poetic sayings.”
Along with sleek statement collections from Japan’s Hirotaka, also on offer at the Paris Nouvellebox event are sexy minimalist jewels by Kloto, luscious gold and diamond adornments from L.A.’s Lizzie Mandler and post-modern romantic pieces by London-based Loquet. The red carpet glamour of Mindi Mond collections stands in beautiful contrast to collections by fashion-forward Milamore Jewelry, while artful ranges from the Netherlands-based brand Van Gelder and collections from Francesca Villa are materially and visually compelling. “If there is a more charming and whimsical jewelry line besides Francesca Villa’s, I have yet to see it,” Hildrow comments.
Highly dimensional and technically perfect pieces by Ouie, cosmically-inspired designs by Franco-Cambodian Samantha Tea, tongue-in-cheek fine jewels by Boochier and impressively classic jewels by the Greek brands Polina Ellis and Penelope Fine Jewelry “are sure to generate much interest among retailers,” Hildrow predicts. “I also believe that innovative and sustainably-focused brands like Dosisg6c, which sources very fine gemstones, will make a splash, and so will the Dutch brand Maqé, which uses solely recycled metals plus gemstones that can be traced back to their mines of origin.”
