Evelyn Claude Accessories: Paper accessories using ancient Japanese Maki-e technique

I stopped by the NYC Gift market week to attend the ribbon cutting and launch for  Evélyn Claude in the US.  The collection of beautiful feather-light, eco-friendly and water resistant paper accessories are crafted using Kin-Maki-E, a thousand year old Japanese process that involves paper that is dusted with gold powder and lacquered.  The designer, Evelyn Teploff-Mugii is a native New Yorker who resides in Kanazawa, Japan where the technique originated.  Evelyn uses her background in graphic design and her love of photography to create her designs. Evelyn incorporates modern touches such as using photographs and silk screening instead of the traditional way of handpainting and glue.  The designs are a wonderful melding of ancient and new artistic methods and uses.  The pieces are also unique because when the sheets are spinning, the digital cutting is done randomly!  My favorite is the "Puzzle" piece where the earrings are cut out from the bracelet, and the pendant is made up of several pieces that fit into each other.

 

Designer Evelyn Teploff-Mugii and Kenji Yoshii (President of Cooperative Association for Promotion of Kanazawa Kaga Mki-e)

From L to R, Marian Goldberg, Evelyn Teploff-Mugii, Kenji Yoshi, Takashi Arai

 

Designer Evelyn and I holding one of her "Puzzle" pieces.

Pins

Precision cut by computer in Japan.

Evelyn also has a line of luxury paper products.  Check out these beautiful bookmarks!

I love these paper stickers that you can stick on your phone. Unfortunately, not available yet in the US.  But Evelyn tells me soon!

Paper Sticker demonstration

The lovely result!

Bernstein Display

A few weeks ago, I visited Bernstein Display Showroom.  The Mannequin showroom which is typically only available for retailers, was open to the public for a few days in the beginning of December. It was really interesting to see the the fun clothes, accessories, and wigs that adorned the mannequins.  Ronald Knoth, a professor at LIM College told me how the showrooms predict trends for the next season to remain competitive in the retail market.  I also met Jonathon Baker of RetailStoreWindows.com who traveled from London to visit the different mannequin showrooms.  At Bernstein Display,  female mannequins were dressed in sequined dresses and wore short bob wigs.  The venue was really elegant and a great place for Threads of Color  to hold their Fundraiser on January 11, 2011.  The Mannequin and Informal Fashion Presentation will  raise scholarship funds for fashion students and promote the global diversity of American Fashion Designers.  Some of the designers that will be represented include Tommy Hilfiger, Adrienne Landau, Tracey Reese, Carmen Marc Valvo and many more!

Want to see Bernstein Display Showroom in person?  Then you should attend the Fundraiser -
it's only $20 for general admission! You can buy tickets at the Threads of Color site.