Introducing the Modern Collection

The Modern Collection was inspired by a contemporary lifestyle that I observed in New York City, Tokyo and Hong Kong. The collection currently consists of four pairs of earrings and it focuses on simplicity in shapes, lines and colors.

I want the collection to have an industrial and a bit of a futuristic feel, but since I love details, I used multiple silver plates and interlinked them with connecting rings.

The earrings (except the Unique Matte and Hammered Hoop Earrings) all have a rigid look. It is contemporary but very wearable. I used silk matte finish on all of them, the color and texture of the silver plates reminded me of my Mac Powerbook. The idea to interlink the small silver plates was inspired by interlinking subway trains that I take everyday.


Rectangular Dangling Earrings with Black Agate. E07507


Modern Retangular Hoop Earrings with Black Agate. E07607


Matte and Hammered Rectangular Earrings with Clear Crystal. E07707


Unique Matte and Hammered Hoop Earrings. E07807

May Ippie Design Jewelry Contest

Dear Ippie friends,

The May Ippie Jewelry Contest exclusively for our newsletter subscribers (CLICK HERE to subscribe!) will begin on May 4th (the 1st Friday of the month)! So for those who didn't enter last time...write it down! If you don't try then you won't win! It's so easy!!

On Friday, we will be sending out an email to all our newsletter subscribers so be on the lookout!

There will be one winner. It’s simple to play.

Here are the details.

How do I play?

Answer 2-3 questions about ippie correctly and be the first to respond by email to service@ippie.com. The questions are based on the Ippie blog at ippiedesign.blogspot.com.

The winner will be contacted and announced on the Ippie blog the following day. You can only win once in a 3-month period.

What will I win?

This May the lucky winner will win this sleek and sexy linear sterling silver necklace...

Good luck and have fun playing!!

Ippie

Ippie Desgin Now Available at Bloomingdales.com!!!

We are so excited to see our dream slowly coming true!!!

Go to www.Bloomingdales.com and checkout ippie earrings!

Ippie Design Earrings Featured in Accessoires Magazine!

Ippie Design's new modern line is featured in the cover story “SPY GIRL” of the Accessories Magazine's May 07 issue!

Once again we are appearing in one of their Fashion Preview stories, which gives editorial trend guides to Accessory buyers from all types of retail stores.

The Ippie earrings featured in the magazine are a pair of contemporary oval hoops with rectangular black agate stones. With its sleek shape and beautiful stones, we completed this piece with a silk matte finish!

Other than the new “modern line”, we also have the new “glamorous gemstone” line which will be available shortly.

Accessories Magazine May 07 Cover


Ippie's oval hoop earrings from the new "modern line"

Ippie Design in Bloomingdale's Catalog!

Great News! Ippie Design has been picked up by Bloomingdale's
Catalog! You will see our beautiful designs in their catalog as well as online!
Words cant express how excited we are

Ippie's Latest Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

FEAR TURNED ME INTO A JEWELRY DESIGNER!

New York, New York, March 2007 – The fear of living from one meager paycheck to another, the fear of the mundane inspired this young accountant into becoming an up-and-coming jewelry designer.

We all have that fear- be it the fear of change or the fear of failure. Sandy Ip, however, decided it was time to give fear the cold shoulder and make a significant change in her life: retiring from the accounting world and going into jewelry design. Sandy has been designing jewelry for many years but it had taken backseat to everything else. Busy making business connections from her days in college, Sandy found the resources to make what seemed to be just a hobby into a dream job. “I wanted jewelry with lots of texture and lots of details, something different and that’s what Ippie Design is about”. She partnered with her long time friend, Jay Nozawa, and started Ippie Design (www.ippie.com) in July of 2005.

“She’s always seemed to be ahead of the game in terms of fashion” raves partner Jay Nozawa. “I saw her designs and the passion she had for them and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to be a part of something special”. Sandy wanted to focus on jewelry that was catered to young chic professionals who wanted something unique. “Ippie Design’ jewelry represents women who aren’t afraid to take risks, go after what they love and be who they are. It takes a long time to create these special earrings, there is a lot of detail and craftsmanship that goes into each style” says Sandy.

Jay and Sandy both received their bachelor degrees from Babson College’s well-respected business program in Massachusetts. “We have used what we have learned in school, how to start and manage your own business and especially managing Ippie Design’s cash flow”.

Based out of her small studio apt in Midtown New York, Sandy and Jay have been packing orders and making sure that all of their small and large clientele are happy with what they have purchased. “This was not as easy as we thought, going to craft fairs, tradeshows, visiting boutiques door to door, and cold-calling. Any free time we had we were working on the Ippie Brand. Anything we can do to sell our jewelry, we tried it! With a tight budget of course!” says Jay.

While they have struggled for years, 2007 looks to be the breakthrough year for Ippie DESIGN. “Yes! I got orders from major department stores! Two huge department stores have ordered from us, and we’re very excited! It means so much to us that Large National Retailers are going to be showcasing Ippie Design Jewelry throughout the US and possibly Internationally!” says Sandy Ip. The future is certainly looking bright for this young jewelry designer and her partner. Who would have thought that this accountant-cum-designer and her unique designs would have made her presence known in the jewelry industry this quickly? At least one person, that’s for sure: the fearless and headstrong Sandy Ip.

# # #

For additional information on “Fear Turned Me Into A Jewelry Designer”, please contact Jay Nozawa (jnozawa@ippie.com) or Sandy Ip (sandy.ip@ippie.com) or visit www.ippie.com. Samples available upon request, please contact for product availability. Ippie Design is a registered trademark company.
ABOUT IPPIE DESIGN – Established in 2005, ippie design is a jewelry company started by Sandy Ip and Jay Nozawa. Ippie Design jewelry is skillfully handcrafted with sterling silver, crystals, pearls, and gemstones, every piece meets the Company’s standards of high quality. Funky, preppy, or trendy, Ippie Design jewelry allows you to express your individual spirit. Ippie Design – “Something Rare”.

- END -

News With Ippie

Ippie jewelry is picked up by another major retailer. More details to come!!!

Ippie Jewelry at SAKS OFF 5TH

A selected styles of earrings will soon be available in Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue stores. The prices on these pieces are specially discounted for the Off Saks stores. All earrings are hanged from the Ippie Design earring cards, it can be easily identified. Please visit the nearest store and check out ippie jewelry!

Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are the Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue stores that sells ippie jewelry:

Arizona
Tucson , Tucson

California
Cabazon, Cabazon
Ontario Mills, Ontario

Florida
Ellenton, Ellenton
Sawgrass Mills, Sunrise
Dolphin Mall, Miami
Naples, Estero

Georgia
Atlanta, Lawrenceville

Hawaii
Waikele Center, Waipahu

Illinois
Woodfiled Village, Schaumburg

Maryland
Arundel Mills, Hanover

Michigan
Auburn Mills, Auburn Hills

New Jersey
Jersey Gardens, Elizabeth

New York
Woodbury Commons, Central Valley

Pennsylvania
Franklin Mills, Philadelphia

Texas
The Fountains (Houston), Stafford
San Marcos, San Marcos
Grapevine Mills, Grapevine
Katy Mills, Katy

Virginia
Potomac Mills, Prince William

More Tradeshow Dates

Atlanta Aparel Show
Show Dates: 02/01 - 02/04
Location: Americas Mart, 250 Spring Street Suite 8w125a, Atlanta, Ga. 30303

Pool Tradeshow
Show Dates: 02/13 - 02/15
Location: Booth #B115, Las Vegas Convention Center, Gold Lot, Las Vegas, NV,

Updates From RENA

Our favorite RENA has recently wore Ippie earrings for another TV shoot.

Ippie at Atlanta Gift Show

Ippie Design is showing at the Atlanta Gift Show this month. Here is the detail:

Date: 1/9 to 1/17
Location: Americas Mart, 250 Spring St. 8w125a, Atlanta, GA 30303

We will also exhibit in Japan and Las Vegas in February. More details to come!

Ippie Design was featured on the Thrifty Boutique Jewelry Blog

Ippie Design was featured on the Thrifty Boutique Jewelry blog (http://thriftyboutiquejewelry.blogspot.com) today! Thrify Boutique Jewelry blog is a popular e-zine and is a member of the well known TB media group. Click on the image below to see the reivew!

My Jewelry Making Process

Some people always ask me how I design jewelry. Since I never had any formal training, I just learn as I go.
I thought it would be interesting to show the process of how a pair of earrings are born at Ippie Design. (If you have any suggestions please feel free to leave comments or contact me!) Here is a snapshot:

First I have to get inspired! With the idea in mind, I start working on a design pattern. In this example, I wanted to create a contemporary pair of earrings that represents nature, wilderness and Africa without looking like the typical African tribal styles. So the first step I took was developing a zebra pattern.


After I decided on the pattern, I design the details of the earrings by sketching it out. (Below is the final sketch of the earrings) Other decisions that need to be made in creating the earrings are the materials (sterling silver & dark oak wood in this case), the size and the finish.


Next step is making the design mold! The pictures below show the casting molds. Casting molds are made from wax and then translated into molds below. You can see the back of the mold before insterting dark oak wood.



And at last...the zebra pattern earrings with inlayed dark oak wood are born!!

Jewelry & Style

Some people say you can tell a person’s personality by looking at their shoes. I say you can tell a person’s style by looking at the jewelry they wear. In the movie Devil Wears Prada, when the "zero fashion sense" Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) first showed up for her interview, she was wearing a Tiffany look alike necklace. Her whole look was very tasteless. Tiffany makes beautiful jewelry, but some people wear them because of its brand only. Luxury brands don’t equal to style; you ultimately create your style.

When designing jewelry, I focus not only on the style, but also on the quality. I think the quality of the jewelry is very important because it represents substance. A woman cannot just be beautiful to look at; she has to have substance in order to be happy and attract others. In my opinion, wearing good quality and stylish jewelry shows not only a person’s taste, but also her style in life!

Obviously, I am in love with jewelry. I love jewelry that are delicate yet bold yet with a sense of simplicity…that is the kind of passion I put behind my jewelry.

"Accessorizing is the new, modern way to dress."

I read an interesting article today by Allison Kaplan from the pioneer press about Accessories. Here is a snippet of the article:

Former Nordstrom fashion director Kevin Quinn spent the past year and a half organizing the wardrobes of Twin Cities residents. What he discovered: We don't need any more clothes.
What we do need is the know-how to put the pieces together in new and adventurous arrangements, he says. And accessories are one of the easiest and often most cost-effective ways to do that.
"This is America — we're going to keep buying," Quinn says. "Accessorizing is the new, modern way to dress."

I agree with what Kevin Quinn said. As I grow older, my own style is moving towards wearing simple clothing with dramatic accessories. Many women do not have the luxury of spending hours in front of the mirror everyday, with the right accessories, you can look fashionable without trying too hard, and most importantly it’s quick too!

Ippie Jewelry Featured on the Accessories Magazine

I am so excited to share with you that ippie's jewelry was featured on the Accessories Magazine's November 2006 issue! Accessories Magazine is an industry trade magazine that focuses on "retail readers who sell women's fashion accessories in any type of retail environment, including department stores, specialty stores, mass, junior, catalogue and Internet retailers". (www.accessoriesmagazine.com)

Ippie's "Single Filigree Hoop with White Mother of Pearl Earrings" (E00606) was featured on their Spring 2007 Fashion Preview section. In this section, experts showed how textured surfaces, exotic materials and delicate details add dimensions and unexpected combinations to spring's soft silhouettes.


Accessories Magazine, November 2006 Cover


Model demonstrates sophistication and style by mixing ippie's sterling silver filigree earrings(E00606) with long strands of colored pearl necklaces in the Spring 2007 Fashion Preview section.


Featured Earrings, Single Filigree Hoop with White Mother of Pearl. (E00606)

Ladies Who Launch LIVE Event

ippie jewelry was featured in the Ladies Who Launch’s LIVE event in New York City on Oct 19th 2006. Over 500 professional ladies and media such as the Oprah Magazine, Glamour Magazine, Elle, all attended this exciting event. The event started from 9 am and ended at 6pm. Event details included many successful women entrepreneurs sharing their struggles and their successes, which I personally found very inspirational. NY post reporter Paula Froelich, NBC Co-Anchor Perri Peltz all gave inspirational speeches giving us entrepreneurs hope. There was also a fashion show where ippie jewelry was featured on most of the models. I was so happy to see all of my jewelry being exhibited to everyone at the event. I got alot of positive reviews and feedback from everyone! I also donated 10% of my sales of the day to No Doubt, a non-profit organization that helps disadvantaged students to graduate from high school.

I had the opportunity to get a few pictures with the models and here there are.


Model with teardrop filigree earrings (E00406) and a Sharon Gill top. (Sharon Gill Design, a contemporary line of Indian inspired women's clothing that makes a statement. Some of her designs have been worn by 'Laurie Berkner' on the Good Morning America Show.)


Model with large 18K goldplated filigree and wavy hoop earrings. (E01206)

Interview with glamhub.com

I love meeting creative, determined and entrepreneurial people. I encountered many of them in New York City. One of them is Denise Tong of glamhub.com. Glamhub.com is a new fashion information hub that focuses on providing fashion and beauty news in the New York area. It also contains interviews with local designers and I was lucky enough to be interviewed by Denise back in September.

To read the complete interview please click here.

It all started…

Although I have been working on my jewelry company since early 2005, my first line of sterling silver jewelry was officially launched in the August 2006 market week in New York, focusing on my first line called “The Shanghai Collection”.

My travels to China over the years inspired this collection. I was in Shanghai, where old meets new is evident throughout the city. Enormous skyscrapers standing behind ancient Chinese architectures, western influences mixing in with the 5000 year old culture, creating a sharp contrast that is both exciting and unique. Inspired by this observation, I designed the Shanghai collection by combining detailed traditional patterns and bold contemporary shapes. In order to further give the jewelry a subtle touch of modernity, I used high polish finish to add shine to each piece.


Traditional Chinese architectures with carved wood windows and doors - Shanghai 2005


Bold yet detailed, sterling silver & mother of pearl -The Shanghai Collection


A typical sight on the streets of Shanghai where old meets new


Filigree Necklace - The Shanghai Collection