(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK — JA New York announces the eight designers participating in the spring 2019 edition of the New Designer Gallery.
Aimee Petkus, Julie Lamb, Linda Hoj, M. HISAE, Olivia B., Original Eve, Ravit Kaplan and S. Tree will be making their New York City fine jewelry trade show debut, March 10-12 at the Jacob Javits Center. Their work showcases a varied aesthetic that is certain to appeal to a wide range of retail partners.
“Supporting new designer talent is a primary tenet of the JA New York Show culture,” said Drew Lawsky, show director for JA New York and PREMIER. “By offering these designers an opportunity to showcase their work in a turn-key booth that is supplemented by the show, as well as providing additional marketing support to highlight their participation, our hope is that we’re able to foster their ongoing success.”
The New Designer Gallery history dates back to 1977, when the then-director of the JA Show, Mort Abelson, saw a need to breath new life into his trade events and set out to find artists to showcase their work. With the introduction of the first New Designer Gallery, which included industry veterans such as David Yurman, the concept of “designer fine jewelry” was introduced into the marketplace. Today, JA New York continues to search the globe for designers in order to identify emerging artists and makers who can benefit from this opportunity.
“One of the highlights of curating this section each year is the sense of community that is created among the designers,” said Liz Kantner, sales and designer consultant for JA New York Shows. “It’s so fun to be present while these lifelong friendships are being formed; the shared experience of taking the next step in their businesses together establishes a foundation that they continue to build upon for years.”
Designer Theresa Kaz, who formally launched her collection in the New Designer Gallery in spring 2018, said, “Every step forward in my business has been the direct result of a contact that originated while I was exhibiting in the New Designer Gallery. Friendships with other artists who continue to be instrumental to my business, connections with the media and, ultimately, relationships with stores, all began at the New Designer Gallery!”
The Mort Abelson New Designer of the Year will be presented this year on Monday, March 11, at 3 p.m. Anonymously voted on by a panel of experts, this year’s winner will join previous winners such as Paul Morelli, Whitney Boin, George Sawyer, Eddie Sakamoto, Steven Kretchmer and Alex Sepkus.