Shaill Launches Silver
The inspiration for Shaill Jhaveri’s new silver and vermeil line? Plain old H2O. Research from the United Nations and CIA reveals that the life-sustaining element of water “will become increasingly hard to come by in many parts of the world (the Middle East, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa) and will be a leading cause of conflict,” he tells JCK.
Another troubling fact the designer discovered: By 2025, two billion people will live in countries where it will be difficult or nearly impossible to mobilize water. The water dilemma is particularly concerning for Jhaveri because he is a native of Mumbai, where population growth has placed even greater pressure on water supplies; his parents still live in India.
His new jewelry designs feature stylized drops of water evoking a splash, a shower, or a downpour, with and without precious stones. “I can see this collection go on and on,” says Jhaveri. The line is so new—he brought only a few pieces to JCK Las Vegas in June—that retail prices haven’t quite been finalized; he expects most items to fall within the $100 to $2,000 range.
Yes He Chan
Men’s bracelet with gunmetal nuggets and leather cord; $220; Chan Luu, Los Angeles; 877-242-6588; chanluu.com
Trendy and often unisex accessories designer Chan Luu has officially launched a collection for men. The pieces debuted at the Fall II/Holiday 2010 Los Angeles Fashion Market in June and are still on the unisex side—line bracelets in leather can suit a man or woman—but semiprecious stones like labradorite and zebra jasper help take the looks to a more sophisticated level. “Chan saw a need in the market, so this line was the next logical step,” says a Luu spokesperson. Styles are crafted in sterling silver, vermeil, gunmetal, and leather cord and start at $195 retail.