Yellow - Be Brave My Fashionistas

Oooo. Yellow for fashion has always scared me a bit. And as we embark on our looks for 2019, Dunitz & Company fair trade jewelry is offering some sunny and brave alternatives. Heck, Glamour Magazine has boldly stated that "Yellow is the Biggest Color Trend for Spring."




Seriously! If Carolina Herrera, Max Mara and Marc Jacobs can offer yellow- so can we. This list goes on and on. Lanvin. Bottega Veneta. Balenciaga. Brandon Maxwell. Lela Rose. Etro. Monse. Kate Spade New York. Oscar de la Renta. Should I keep typing? Even after reading this long list of top designers banking on yellow, you may reconsider your wearables for the soon to be warmer weather.





Is the concept of yellow jiving with you yet? Marie Claire magazine also confirms that "yellow" is on the money.  Their recent trend article offered up some images of more subtle yellow shades, even if they were coined 'egg-yolk yellow'. Can I say this confused me a bit? These designs featured by Marie Claire (Jonathan Simkhai. Tibi. Escada. Rodarte.) reveal lovely softer yellows, definitely not egg-yolk. (I think these outfits are definitely an easier wear for the not-so-brave.)

Pantone, as you may know, made a huge study of all the runway fashion shows before announcing their colors for Spring 2019. Their "Aspen Gold" sure sounds sexier than Egg Yolk. The shade - very similar. The feeling? Bold. Warm. Sunny. Happy. So, I say, be brave, bring on the yellow. Even a paler yellow.  (Did you know I painted my house yellow? Random non-sequitur, I know. It definitely is a "happy" color.)







My guess is most of you don't have much vibrant yellow clothing in your closet. You might not choose to invest big dollars in an outfit you might rarely wear. You may not have the time to scour thrift shops for the perfect yellow trousers, raincoat or sweater.  And frankly, you just may not be brave enough to publicly wear such a bold shade. (A few years ago, I went out and bought a pair of loud pink corduroys because they were supposedly right on-trend. Do you know how many times I wore them? Once!) I understand all of it. There is a solution! Accessories! Bring them on.

So, this is definitely where Dunitz & Company with our fair trade jewelry makes the pitch.  One does not need to be brave to don a bold yellow necklace or pair of earrings. Our bright accents will add pizazz to any outfit and scream 'on-trend'. Be that gal. Go for it! Dunitz & Company's Joanie M fused glass collection is offering a wonderfully sunny combination for Spring 2019. (Check out the square pendant necklace pictured here.) Have a retail store? Log into our wholesale website to see all of the fused glass jewelry possibilities. We'll surely help your fashionista clients with yellow accents.




So you're style is a bit more Boho versus Classic? Dunitz & Company has you covered. We've been working with artisans in Guatemala that create the most spectacular beadwork since the early 1990s. And twice a year we create new color combinations that mesh with the clothing you'll find on store racks. We definitely did not miss out on 'yellow' for Spring 2019. A new seed bead combination we're crazy for combines golden-yellow with a softer celery green.  We think you'll love it.  It's a bit tamer than our Joanie M fused glass yellow.  Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings. Dunitz & Company's fair trade jewelry will spice up your warmer weather ensembles.


Glamour, Marie Claire and Pantone have declared "Yellow" as one of the biggest color trends for the upcoming season. Don't miss out on the fun. Dunitz & Company's fair trade jewelry offers so many yellow accents at affordable prices. If it's not our design, wear something from another designer. Forget about corduroys. (Note to Nancy) I say dazzle 'em with a new sunny pair of fair trade earrings! -ND

Is Dunitz Jewelry in Sync with Pantone?

Every year I create new color combinations for Dunitz fair trade jewelry well in advance of trade shows, shipping retailers and Pantone announcements about what colors will be the hottest. Once Pantone announces their palette everyone scrambles to see if their offerings are in sync with their projections. I'm certain Pantone color experts carefully watch the biggest runway shows, as most of us designers do, and from these, they make there selections. But somehow, once Pantone publishes their trend report we all squirm to show how we're on the pulse, their pulse. Trade magazines and consumer magazines all begin reporting on merchandise that is colored matched to Pantone's announcement. So how did Dunitz & Company stack up this season?

Living Coral. Yes, that's the big one! Pantone announced Living Coral, a pale orange - or a dark melon depending on how you see it for 2019's Color of the Year. I've always found that darker orange in jewelry are a tough sell. There are those that love it. The masses do not.  But, I agree with Pantone. There's something quite appealing about this color. And guess what? For our Joanie M fair trade fused glass, we're right on the money. My Color #130 is exactly as Pantone projects.





More often than not, with our fair trade jewelry, I mix a few colors to make our whole.  Living Coral with Sweet Lilac pink with a little extra for fun? Color #363 for beadwork tells that story. Don't you agree? Do you think our millennial customers will go for it? The stereotype is pink IS for millennials.









Darker Pink? Pantone "Pink Peacock " we've got you covered. We affectionately call this shade of pink, orchid.  And yes, I recognize orchids grow in all shades and colors. Combined with metallic silver this pairing makes for a strong and fun summer offering. When I was first working on this color combo, I had added a third color, a soft baby pink. Ya know what? That just wasn't as appealing.

 Yellow always scares me for jewelry. But somehow, I just knew that 2019 was the time to bring out some sunshine! Straight up. Yes. Our fused glass "Color #133" combines what Pantone calls Aspen Gold and Mango Mojito. Score. (I'm sure years ago I selected a Dunn Edwards paint designated Aspen Gold for my home. It's such a happy color.)

Pepper Stem. That's Pantone's lighter green choice for Spring 2019.  Not quite lime. Not quite army. Mixed with a pale golden-yellow (Aspen Gold?) makes for fun summer jewelry.










Blue. Princess Blue. Pantone's selection for blue this season reminds me of a Mediterranean Sea. And I'm all about that! And our customers also have always been about that. Frankly, it doesn't matter what the year is. This color is ALWAYS popular. I know you've heard me say this before. Blue sells. Any shade of blue.  But for now, let's get back to Pantone's Princess Blue. I love this deep shade and I've used similar in several fused glass color combos for Spring 2019.

Personally I adore wearing neutral colors. And Pantone's "Toffee" brown is just that. The thing though, is in Spring and Summer, we find our customer often prefer wearing jewelry adornments with a bit of color. Toffee, sure? How about with a bit of sea-foam and mint? I sometimes joke that it's a formula. Almost any shade of brown with almost any shade of blue wins.






So, how'd did Dunitz & Company fair with their fair trade jewelry colors this season? I'd say we did pretty darn well. You won't find every color Pantone announced for their 2019 lineup. Yes we're missing 'red'. That's a tough one for us. You however can be sure we'll be offering other shades of blue, purple and jade - all colors we know our customers love.  - ND

The Golden Globes & Necklaces Are Back!

I love necklaces. I love designing them for Dunitz & Company, and even better, I love selling them. Unfortunately the last few years our fair trade necklace sales have waned. Guess what? That's about to change.

Did you watch the Golden Globes last night? I did. And I was thrilled to see many of the actresses sporting some large and flashy necklaces.  Of course they were all wearing over the top diamonds loaned from shops I'm afraid to enter. Just the same, for the last few seasons these starlets were more about earrings than necklaces.Were the girls wearing earrings? Sure, fabulous ones. But, many also brought out the necklaces. Lady Gaga topped the chart with a Tiffany & Co. necklace loaded with 100 carats and supposedly worth $5 million. (How many guards were protecting that?)

 Of course, I can't post photos of all the actresses showing off glitzy necklaces from last night. But a few more here prove my point. Michelle Yeoh (De Beers Necklace), Taraji P Henson (Roberto Coin Necklace) and Elisabeth Moss (Neil Lane) all chose to wear some "important" neck dangles.

Here's the thing. When celebrities start making fashion statements, in this case wearing necklaces, "the look" will trickle down. Yeah! This means necklaces are back in vogue. And it also means I can pitch one of my favorite styles knowing it's right on trend (again)! You know it ladies. Dunitz & Company's 'Coral Necklace' made of seed beads is the perfect and affordable adornment that you can dress up or dress down! And of course, we can easily pair them with some fabulous earrings and bracelets.

If you're familiar with Dunitz & Company's fair trade jewelry, you know we offer 12 on-trend colors in many designs each season. I'm prepared for Spring 2019. These samples shown here - are here just to tease you. Come on. You KNOW you want one. Happy New Year. -ND

Holiday Card Greetings, Always with Dogs

It dawned on me that the holidays crept up on me and I hadn't designed a new holiday card. What's a girl to do? Who would remember my terrific card from last year?  I decided to give my two doberman mascots new necklaces. Dunitz & Company fair trade necklaces, of course.  I also thought it would be fun to go through my computer and find my images from past years. In earlier times, we printed our greetings on paper and mailed them. In recent times, my masterpieces have been shared by email and social media. Here's my stroll down memory lane. I think this may be the first time I'm posting pics in "medium" size on my blog. It's either so you can see them easily without double clicking or to let you know just how much I love my dogs!


2007. Byron and the Snowman. Yes, he is wearing Dunitz & Company necklaces in appropriate colors

2008. Our mascot, Byron thinking about one of his favorite things. Yup. We made him wear reindeer antlers again.

2009. Byron was greeted by Santa that winter season.

2010. Byron was a bit more reserved with a Dunitz & Company bracelet featured as a collar.

2011. Return of the Antlers. And Byron was not too pleased.  I'm afraid at this point in the job, he had gotten quite old. I think the greeting reflected that.











2012. Stetson took over with a Chanukah Greeting.

2012. Simple, but our warm wishes are always the same.

2016. Don't ask. I haven't a clue what happened to 2013, 2014 or 2015 greetings. I can't seem to locate them.  By 2016, Ida had joined our crew.  Along with Stetson, they decided to don some Dunitz & Company fair trade kippot. Silly? Yes. Fun? Definitely.

2016. For Christmas, the mascots proudly wore Dunitz & Company necklaces. Me? I put on a Santa's helper outfit. Shall I saw I borrowed the outfit and body. Ah, the magic of Photoshop.















Seems 2017 was an oversight as well. Can't find a card in my files. Certainly our best wishes were in tow. They always are. Hey, go back to the top of this blog. And there you'll find our updated 2018 group shot. An updated version from 2016. But, heck, the dogs got new necklaces.  Happy Holidays and Best Wishes from Dunitz & Company for a healthy, happy, prosperous and fun New Year. See you in 2019! -ND

What I Say about Living Coral - Pantone's 2019 Choice

My color planning and choices for Dunitz & Company's fair trade jewelry for the upcoming Spring season have been long put to bed. Shades of deep orange have been super popular for Spring clothing for several years now.  And 2019 projections seem no different. Many of the designers whose names we easily recognize decked their models in vibrant variations of coral for this Spring's runway. It's no wonder that after several years, Pantone has named "Living Coral" their Color of the Year.

I have mixed feelings about this. What I've learned is our customers don't always follow trends when it comes to purchasing their jewelry. Because "Coral" was so big in clothing the last few years, Dunitz & Company chose to offer jewelry in similar shades. Check out Bev in our photo to the right. This pic is from a couple of years ago and she is, yes, outfitted in "Living Coral". She's a stunner. The jewelry is stunning. Truth be told, this color way has never been a particularly good seller for us. Why do I offer it? There's always a small group of women that adore (and purchase jewelry in) coral. Also, our customers NEED choices. Offer them coral. They'll buy the aqua blue. (Yes, "shades of blue" always win over Rose Quartz, Serenity, Greenery, Ultra-Violet, and I'm sure Living Coral.)

So, what's a jewelry designer, whose collection is based on color to do? Dunitz & Company's Spring 2019 colors were chosen and created long before Pantone made their recent announcement.  And somehow, I'm right on track. A great track, I think.  Each year we offer 12 different color ways in our seed bead and our Joanie M fused glass collections. You better believe that a majority of our offerings include various hues of jade and sapphire. Did I say blue sells?  But if you were reading, you also read that other colors sell albeit in smaller quantities. Offering many choices always our customers to reaffirm their favorites.

Guess what? Dunitz & Company is offering variants of Living Coral for Spring 2019. In our popular fused glass line we'll have some stunning pieces in what I have lovingly referred to as a dark melon shade. Perhaps I should now call it ‘Living Coral’ so I sound as if I'm in the know.  For production, I call it "Color #128". What do you think? Even without Pantone's announcement, Dunitz & Company is right on the pulse.







For our beaded jewelry, I was particularly influenced by the recent Emilio Pucci runway. Several of Pucci's fabrics combined wonderful shades of dark melon (aka Living Coral) with various shade of pink and in some cases, splashes of turquoise.  That inspiration resulted in, yes production "Color #363". I chose a strong bead that more resembles the inside of a cantaloupe and coupled it with pale nectar and the never-ending popular millennial pink. Sure hope our customers love it as much as I do.





As I was getting ready to complete this post, I received an email sharing Dayna Isom Johnson's (Etsy's trend maven) most recent blog entry.  She has anointed Etsy's Color of the Year as "Burnt Orange". Where I see her choice a bit dark for Spring clothing and jewelry, it sure follows suit. Similar color. Same family. Stay turned to the Dunitz Etsy Shop and you're sure to find some Living Coral, Burnt Orange, Cantaloupe, Melon colored options.


So there you have it. My two cents about Living Coral and Pantone's 2019 choice.  Keep your eye on Dunitz & Company's fair trade jewelry.  If you're a retailer, our Spring 2019 collections will be up on our wholesale site soon.  Looking to buy for you? You can easily do that too. We're here to help. Did you know our websites also have a store locator? Perhaps there is a retailer near you where you can see, touch and feel our jewelry before purchasing.

Tell me what you think about my thoughts on Living Coral. I'd love to hear from you. - ND

Etsy Finds - Loved & Tested

You all know Dunitz & Company sells fair trade jewelry and kippot. I often write about the fair trade aspects of what I do. What I may not focus on enough is that our line is all handmade. We love handmade. I love handmade. I love supporting makers from the USA and other faraway places. Dunitz sells on Etsy. And I also believe in supporting other artists selling on Etsy. Here are a few of my favorites, not in any particular order. They might be your next favorite too!

1. JANELLE SONGER'S CERAMICS - I'm crazy for Janelle's ceramics. She is so talented. I discovered her years ago on Etsy and purchased a vase from her (as an Etsy guest) for a wedding gift. Soon after, I learned my niece, Helen Gotlib, also an artist, was acquainted with Janelle. Small world. Then again, they both live in Michigan, from where I originally come. I have a couple of Janelle's pieces in my home. The cup shown here, a gift from Helen, is now my favorite piece in my bathroom. I started using it to conserve water while brushing my teeth. (Don’t let that water run endlessly!) https://www.etsy.com/shop/janellesonger




2. IZEPH DELIGHTS, ISAIAH JOSEPH - If you know anything about me, you know I'm a world traveler. You might not know that I'm coconut crazy. Randomly I searched on Etsy for coconut edibles. This led me to Isaiah's shop. And I've been drooling ever sense. He's originally from Dominica. That means his baked offerings have a Caribbean flair. Typical fudge is creamy.  His coconut fudge has a grittier texture, something I've experienced with desserts from other parts of the world such as India and Guatemala. His fudge transports me to other places far far away from Los Angeles, where I current live. Recommended. https://www.etsy.com/shop/IzephDelights



3. WOVENFINDS CO. - Lina from Woven Finds has been developing wonderful handbags with artisans in Morocco that are made from local palm. They're strong and fashionable. And she personally knows many of the artisans she works with since she was a kid. Her business is young. Yet she's so savvy when it comes to her new designs. She really has a pulse on what hip women want to carry. I've been toting around this small clutch when I don't need to carry the 'kitchen sink'. And I know, you know what I mean.  (Yes, that's a Dunitz bracelet I'm modeling with my purse!) https://www.etsy.com/shop/WovenFindsCo




4. CRICKET N WILLOW, SUSAN PALOMINO - Are you crazy for handmade soap? Then do I ever had a great suggestion for you! Not only does Susan's soap smell great and last long, it is beautifully wrapped. (Each bar is ready for gift giving, assuming you don't keep everything you purchase for yourself, as I did!) She only uses organic and natural components when making her soap. And she has so many appealing soap choices you'll have a tough time deciding which one you want to try first. At least it was tough for me. (Yes, my bracelets again!) https://www.etsy.com/shop/CricketnWillow 





5. ALMA POTTERY, LAVINIA HANACHUIC - Lavinia has such a whimsical style. And she never rests on her laurels. She's always creating new and innovative things. The punch line: if you see something in her Etsy shop that interests you, snag it. Because next month you'll see she's creating something different. I have one of her pieces hanging out next to my stereo receiver. And every time I go to turn on my music, I can't help but smile. https://www.etsy.com/shop/AlmaPottery

6. CYNTHIA WEBB DESIGNS - I'm personally acquainted with Cynthia for many years since we "grew up" in the wholesale business together. We both sell to boutiques all over the USA. We both now also offer up our work on Etsy. Her amazing designs in pewter are sure to please, from framed wall art to 'room blessings', which to some resemble mezuzahs. I think her little tickets make the best gifts. And since mine were purchased and given away, I'm posting her photo. Who can't ever have enough hugs? Or give too many? https://www.etsy.com/shop/cynthiawebbdesigns





7. MUSTANG LEATHER SHOPPE, SANDY RACINE - When it comes to our doberman mascots, you KNOW I'm serious.  This is why when Stetson's collar fell apart this year, I was on a mission to find something handsome, unique and perfect for him. I found leather tooling expert extraordinaire Sandy from Ohio on Etsy. And now Stetson looks quite dapper as you can see in this photo. Sandy also knocks it out the park with her one-of-a-kind leather handbags. You can see more on her shop page. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Mustangleathershoppe





8.  DUNITZ, NANCY DUNITZ - How can I NOT mention my own Etsy shop when sharing all of my other favorites?  So, once again, I ask that you visit the Dunitz Etsy page. As of this date, the earrings here have been my best seller on Etsy. I can't tell you why? Maybe my SEO for this item is perfect! And/or, as I always say, "everyone loves blue!" You could soon be wearing a pair of these beauties too. Heck, and the matching bracelet too :). https://www.etsy.com/shop/dunitz





There you have it! My standout Etsy Finds - Loved & Tested. Of course I want you all to discover, love and wear Dunitz & Company's fair trade jewelry.  I also love the idea of you personally enjoying my Etsy favorites. -ND

What Inspires Color Combinations

You know I write about this often. I can't help it.  Each year I get so pumped up when I create seed bead color combinations for our fair trade jewelry collection.  I drool over the runway fashion shows and they always inspire me. This season was no different. Our Spring 2019 will be released soon. And here are some designer fashions that inspired me.

I'm a huge fan of jade and sea foam colors. I'm not alone. Typically paired with any shade of brown and I've got a score. M Missoni's recent runway show included such colors. And this was my inspiration for a new color combo. A little mint spices it up. Yes, coming soon!








Delpozo's Spring 2019 runway shows offered some fabulous styles mixing various shades of lavender with grey and white. Hey! Perfect for our beaded things. I came up with this? Not too pale. Not too bright. Very versatile.








Pink was all over the runway for Spring 2019.  And even though I'm always told Millennials adore pink, it's always been a tougher sell. Dunitz has offered shades of blush and pale pink many many times. This season, I decided to take the lead from designer, Barbara Tfank.  I chose an orchid pink which was inspired by her recent show. Hope it sells. I love that it's a bolder pink than I've ever offered in the past.




And finally, inspiration from Emilio Pucci. Vibrant Orange and Coral have always been a bit of a challenge. There are customers that love love love deep shades of citrus.  But, honestly, more don't. That left me challenged for the upcoming season. Designer clothing will be abundant in orange for Spring 2019.  I desperately wanted to offer something different that would be right on target. The Emilio Pucci collection this season was so much fun. Will you all go in for this new color combination?




As I type this, I know more of you are thinking about Christmas.  I'm obsessing about winter trade shows and my new Spring 2019 fair trade jewelry collections.  When pulling it together, I vowed I would NOT use "black" this season. Yes, there was a lot of black strutting down the Spring runways.  This year, I wanted to be...just a bit more colorful.  Are you with me? -ND