By Candy Washington
NEW YORK, NY (AUGUST 2011) – Feeling overwhelmed about what to stock your store with, for you on-the-ball retailers, or your closets, for you fierce fashionistas, in preparation for the upcoming gift season? Fret not my fashion friends, for I have scoured the booths at this seasons New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) at the Javits Center and Pier 92/94. This year the show was overflowing with your tried-and-true brands, newbies on the scene, and the rising stars.
First trend alert: candles. I happened upon
Joya, candles and scented oils handmade in Brooklyn. Joya is the only booth with an on-site candlemaker crafting customized candles for on-the-spot shopping satisfaction. Frederick Bouchardy, founder of Joya,which means jewel, showed in his Home Fragrance Collection that comes in black porcelain designed by ceramic artist Sarah Cihat and comes in Orange Blossom & Pale Muck, Jasmine Absolute & Sugar, Blue Lotus & Wild Grass, and Gunpowder Green Tea.
Et Al designs, specializes in novelty candles which range from $4-12 wholesale, made from beeswax, burns 1 hour per inch, and are manufactured in China, Thailand, and Vietnam as noted by Alina Bednarz, president of the company. Their candles range from Halloween, black and white dots and checkered, a classic Christmas motif of green, red, Holly, trees, and stockings, to an elegant Christmas with silver and gold color pallets. The designs have been called, “Unusual items that make great gifts, especially around the holidays, but frankly, anytime of the year,” by a corporate buyer. Other notable candle and oil booths include
Paddywax and
Low Country Luxe.
If your customer is an accessory lover and gift giver, then
Heather B. Moore’s ‘antique’ gold, silver and precious stones bracelets and necklaces are must-buys. You can choose from charms, dogs, and cuff bracelets with personalized or predetermined engravings.
River Song Jewelry offers gemstones pieces in a wide variety of colors and textures. River Burke, the Seattle-based designer, draws her inspiration from Egypt, Turkey, ancient man, flora and fauna, and world culture. Known as the go-to vintage booth,
Grandmother’s Buttons, The design house has a button museum of the 1905 bank building that also serves as the retail store and studio. The collection features ‘buckle up’: one-of-a-kind pendants, early-to-mid 20
th century glass cabochons, jet glass buttons, stencil buttons circa 1930′s, Victorian metal buttons circa 1870-1920, and Lady Washington pearls.
Wimberly Tribble of
Wimberly Inc. Jewelry, is just as sweet as her designs and has been in business for the past 11 years. All handmade in the USA, her booth displayed bracelets, charms, necklaces, pendants, pens, purses, and belt buckles crafted from rubberized enamel in yellow, red, light green, and sea foam, featuring classic icons such as bugs, dragonflies, turtles, octopuses, alligators, horseshoes, peace signs, bulls, and owls. The price points range from $28-43 and their best-seller is the bumble bee.
For more formal and glamorized jewelry options like large hoop earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelets turn to
GeoArt by Cynthia Gale. Some of the jewelry includes designs with flowers, leaves, skylines, and dragonflies.
