Pearls of Wisdom

As the October issue of the WWD Accessories Supplement points out, pearls are back and in a big way! Forget Grandma's boring pearl necklace - the modern take on pearls (both real and faux) is to have some fun with them.

mûR's Pearl Loop Necklace takes a decidedly creative approach to this old favorite - a pretty beaded flower motif and and looped pearl strands mixed with a delicate vermeil gold chain creates a multi-layered, feminine look that works well dressed up or down!

Also from mûR, some more whimsical pearl looks can be found in the ever-popular Petals Pendant and Pearl Rose Ring (also the Pearl Rose Pendant and Necklace).

Check out some of other pearl selections too - Médecine Douce's Art Deco interpretations in faux pearl and antiqued brass include the Deco Round Ring and Deco Flat Ring as well as the fantasic Sun Brooch. And don't forget Orner's über-fashionable Leather Flower Necklace (also here).

Caring for your Jewelry

To keep your jewelry in the best condition, it's best to clean it on a regular basis. The best solution for most jewelry is to gently wipe/buff it with a soft, damp cloth soaked in lukewarm water with a touch of mild dishwashing detergent. Always be sure to dry your jewelry completely after each cleaning.

Keep your jewelry safe from hairsprays or perfumes and don't expose them to hot steam or hot water. To prevent tangles on necklaces, it's always best to keep the clasps closed when not worn - and we've found that hanging them in jewelry armoires is the most clutter-free way to store them. *the Laurel Jewelry Armoire (below) from RedEnvelope.com is one we love and use ourselves. PS - it's on sale right now for $49.99 so hurry before they sell out!

Here are a few more tips to keep your jewelry clean, bright and sparkly:

1) Sterling Silver Jewelry: to remove tarnish, use a silver polishing cloth or silver polish from time to time. Be sure to keep silver jewelry dry - water speeds up the tarnishing process - and try to store silver in sealed polybags when not being worn for long periods of time. *If you don't have any cloths or polish handy, dishwashing detergent and/or toothpaste will also do the trick!

2) Vermeil (gold plated) Jewelry: the silver under the gold plate will tarnish after a while, and these blemishes are best removed by using silver dip. One quick dip followed by immediate rinsing in water, then drying with a soft cloth should be enough to clear up the tarnish. If the jewelry needs further cleaning, try re-dipping and repeating the process rather than soaking for prolonged periods in the dip solution. *Be very careful when using dips - they are very strong - and be sure to avoid them entirely if there are pearls or other porous stones in the jewelry (the dip will destroy the shine/lustre of the pearls/stones). If there are pearls or porous stones set in your vermeil jewelry, use a silver polishing cloth and wipe down the metal.

3) Costume Jewelry: simply clean with a soft, damp cloth and dry thoroughly. If needed, use a soft toothbrush to scrub out any dirt or residue. Do not soak in water or solutions.

Exercise and Accessorize for Breast Cancer Awareness

now that the temperatures are dropping (and without the pressure of being seen at the beach or in otherwise skimpy warm weather clothing) how many of you are finding it harder to motivate to get to the gym? or - are you athletic and always on the lookout for a better workout? either way - try pilates! it's one of the best forms of exercise, great for the body AND soul!

kim&maki are teaming up with re:AB pilates studio for a FREE open house day - full of amazing pilates demonstrations and jewelry shopping! 10% of all jewelry sales and $1 of each pilates class purchased at the event will be donated to the susan g. komen breast cancer foundation.

when: Saturday, October 21 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm

where: re:AB Pilates - 33 Bleecker Street #2C, at Mott Street

http://www.reabnyc.com/

(champagne and snackies will be served)

we hope to see you there!

love, kim&maki

About Marjorie Victor

Marjorie Victor combines the fluidity of organic form with the sculptural strength of metal to craft jewelry that is sophisticated and strong, yet unapologetically feminine. Hand forged and finished, each piece is uniquely textured to embody a modern aesthetic with natural precedent. Marjorie Victor's jewelry is all handmade from locally-sourced, recycled silver and gold.

Marjorie Victor has worked for over a decade in the fashion and design industries, most notably as an assistant to industrial designer Eva Zeisel. After a sculpture fellowship at the Coubertin bronze foundry in France and a jewelry apprenticeship in Philadelphia, she introduced her own collection in 2003. She holds a degree in art history and painting from Barnard College and has also trained at Sterling Quest Jewelry Design School in Mexico and at the Fred de Vos Wax Carving Workship in New York City.

Marjorie Victor Jewelry has been featured in more than 50 museum and specialty stores around the globe, including Henri Bendel (NYC), the Sundance Catalog, Milwaukee Museum of Art and Tomorrowland (Tokyo). Her work has also appeared in numerous publications, including both Elle and Lucky magazines.

Victor lives in New York City and works from her studio overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge. The kaleidoscope of fashion and art in the vibrant city she calls home provides endless inspiration for continued design exploration.

What’s especially pretty about Marjorie’s collection is the contrast between the cool, delicate, matte silver and shiny, warm, polished 14K gold fill. We are obsessed with the timeless, organic look and feel of her designs!

About Médecine Douce

Exclusively handmade in France, Médecine Douce’s chic jewelry line successfully fuses both edgy, fashion-forward modernity and delicate, feminine tradition. A wide variety of materials - including brass, leather, enamel, resin and pearls - all enhance the creativity of the collection.

Marie Montaud is the designing force behind Médecine Douce. After studying jewelry design in Italy, Marie debuted the Médecine Douce brand in 1998 to immediate international success. Her trademark styles include off-kilter chain necklaces, playful charms and an obvious soft spot for Art Deco and vintage designs. Marie continues to produce stylish, provocative and affordable accessories for sophisticated women, drawing from such a seemingly endless source of inspiration that we find it hard to keep up.

From the moment we met Marie in Paris and discovered Médecine Douce, it was love at first sight. We think you’ll agree that this collection is full of must-haves for any woman with a passion for fashion!

About mûR

The mûR jewelry collection is a celebration of feminine whimsy and intricate detail. Semi-precious stones, cultured pearls, charms and crochet elements are combined to create beautiful and unique accessories for the young at heart.

Yumiko Akutagawa began designing jewelry for Japanese labels in Tokyo, Japan in 1986. After a successful run behind the scenes, she launched her own label, mûR, in 2001. Using vermeil (gold-plated silver) as a base metal, she has developed a trademark beading and wiring technique - which has been published - and also teaches to jewelry students. Drawing inspiration from flora and fauna, Yumiko continues to dazzle and inspire with her gorgeous designs and fine handiwork.

We have visited Yumiko in her stylish studio and shop in Shibuya where she meticulously hand makes all of her jewelry. It is only a matter of time before she explodes onto the US fashion scene (she has already been featured at Henri Bendel) and we are thrilled to share her vision with you!

About Orner

Orner means to adorn in French, and this collection takes that definition seriously! From rocker chains to bohemian charms, Orner jewelry takes a progressive stance on jewelry. This collection emphasizes simplicity and aims to accessorize clothing without overloading the body.

Hiroko Omari was born and raised in Japan where she graduated from Tokyo Mode Gakuen with a degree in fashion design. In 1998, Hiroko moved to Paris to design accessories under her own label, Orner. The inspiration for much of her collection is drawn from motifs, poetry or mythical legends, which she then interprets into different themes for each collection. Hiroko also likes to mix and match materials, pairing metals with leather, wood, rattan, shells and other raw materials. The result is an innovative collection with lots of texture and dimension.

We were immediately attracted to Hiroko’s Japanese-punk-meets-Parisian-hipster style and were not surprised to discover that her jewelry designs were incredibly fashion-forward, just like her. Don’t miss each seasonal selection from Orner and let your inner rock star break through!

About Kerry Grima

What to say about Kerry Grima? The word fabulous comes to mind. Kerry is a former stylist-turned-designer who hails from Australia. He has lived and worked around the world from the US to Europe and has settled on the tropical paradise of Bali.

Not only an accessories designer, Kerry uses his expertise in fine leathers, suedes, fabrics and metals to create sexy dresses, capes, shoes, hats and belts. His designs invoke glamour, rock-n-roll and infinite chic. We are huge fans and are pleased to present a small selection of his crazy-cool chain-fringed leather bags and brooches.

About Kazaski

Designer Miglena Kazaski began her training in Fine Art and Theatre Design in her native Bulgaria. After much acclaim as an artist and costume designer, she moved to London and launched her label Kazaski in 1999.

Flower motifs and eyelet detailing are the standouts of Miglena’s handbag designs. We hope you love her adorably feminine and colorful bags, which we are offering in limited quantities.

Announcing Kim&Maki Online

Happy fall everyone! We've been working hard all summer and are so happy to finally announce the birth of our online boutique: www.kimandmaki.com

For those of you who have shopped with us before, you know the deal: we scour the globe for chic, wearable and affordable jewelry and you get a fashionable selection of baubles to choose from. Let us fill you in on the rest: you look fabulous, often stopping traffic - and almost always triggering that ultimate complimentary question from your girlfriends: "Where did you get that?"

So here it is: our full catalogue of what we think is the best of the best, which we'll be updating as we discover new talents with each season. Have fun, start shopping and don't forget to check our blog!

Love, Kim & Maki

Kim&Maki Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Kim Reed or Maki Berger
Kim&Maki, LLC
Telephone: (800) 881-6046
Facsimile: (646) 530-8370
info@kimandmaki.com
http://www.kimandmaki.com/

Kim&Maki, LLC Announces Launch of Online Accessories Boutique http://www.kimandmaki.com/

New York, NY -- September 27, 2006 – Kim Reed and Maki Berger, co-founders of Kim&Maki, LLC (Kim&Maki), a New York-based retail and wholesale accessories company, have launched their online boutique, http://www.kimandmaki.com/.

A diverse selection of jewelry and handbags from a roster of local and international designers, including Marjorie Victor (New York), Médecine Douce (France) and mûR (Japan) will be featured on http://www.kimandmaki.com/. The products range from costume jewelry to fine sterling silver, gold plate and gold fill jewelry – with an emphasis on fashionable and unique items. New designers and collections will be added to the roster on a seasonal basis, with prices ranging from as low as $35 and up to $500.

Kim Reed and Maki Berger met 9 years ago while working at Verdura, the New York jewelry house. After a scouting trip to Paris in 2004, they decided to form their own company, Kim&Maki, LLC - initially as wholesale sales reps. “There’s so much jewelry out there now, but so much of it looks the same. We wanted to offer something different,” says Kim Reed. “We found our first three designers on that trip to Paris.” Since then, the two have been selling accessories to such wholesale accounts as Anthropologie, Henri Bendel and Sundance Catalog. They have also developed a steady and loyal retail following through seasonal private sales and trunk shows, which lead them to the natural next step: an e-commerce website.

“We have discovered a great selection of affordable, chic and wearable jewelry designs”, says Maki Berger. “Since most of the designers we rep are up-and-coming, to be able to expose them to a potentially much larger customer base through the Web is a dream come true.” New designers and collections will be added seasonally to the website, which also features a blog (kimandmakiblog.blogspot.com) where sales, promotions and other recommendations will be posted for customers.

For information: http://www.kimandmaki.com/ or
Contact: info@kimandmaki.com
Phone: (800) 881-6046

http://www.kimandmaki.com/ is an online boutique specializing in the sale of fashion accessories.

ABOUT KIM&MAKI -- Kim Reed and Maki Berger (Kim&Maki) are sales agents for several international and local accessories brands, including Marjorie Victor (New York), Médecine Douce (France) and mûR (Japan). Since starting their wholesale business in New York City in 2004, Kim&Maki have sold to Anthropologie stores, Henri Bendel and Sundance Catalog, among various other national and local shops. A selection of the lines they represent has also been available for retail sales at seasonal and promotional private trunk shows. The launch of their online boutique, http://www.kimandmaki.com/, will mark the first time that their lines will be made available to the general public.