Recycled Rubber & High Design

It's been challenging to bring a new, hip and environmentally conscious hand bag line to market. And, that new line will debut next week at the Los Angeles Gift Show. See the new O.BYRON collection in the Dunitz booth, #1031.
It became clear to me earlier this year that my excitement for my business had been waning. I'm guessing it had just become too routine for me. I've been involved with designing and selling my beaded jewelry line (from Guatemala) for well over 20 years. It's been steady and wonderful...but not unexpected.
Some new found joy was created when I ventured to Peru in April/May. While in Peru, I met two wonderful designers who have a workshop where they have been busy creating wonderful things for home decor and personal use. Better yet, they were and are primarily using recycled elements to create their items. We decided to collaborate on a handbag line made of recycled rubber. The rubber we are using primarily comes from tires and inner tubes. The new designs are fashion forward and fair trade. What is even closer to my heart is I have trademarked the line O.BYRON. To most it sounds like a random (designer) person's name. To those who know Dunitz well, you will know this is a tribute to my best friend of 15 1/2 years. My dog and Dunitz mascot passed when I was in Peru. - ND

Guatemalan Sights - Design Week, April 2011

I've never measured, but I estimate the distance between the Posada (where I sleep) and the workshop (where I spend most days) are about 2 miles apart. When I walk, it typically takes me about 1/2 hour. Many days I enjoy this week. On this visit to Guatemala I found myself a bit more lazy that usual. Tuktuk (little red motorized tricycles) is a common mode of transport. This trip I snapped lots of photos from my speeding tuktuk. These views are typical of what you might see on any given day. -ND

Guatemalan Sunset- Design Week April, 2011

Twice a year I spend nearly two weeks in Santiago Atitlan

working on the Dunitz jewelry collection. On my most recent trip I realized I almost never snap photos in & around the community I work. Lake Atitlan and the volcano views are breathtaking. I always snap daylight photos. On this trip, I took some photos of the beautiful sunset as well. -ND

Delicious Copper

It's that time again. For many, snow is still a possibility. Spring has not yet sprung! It's tough to think about the "next" colder season when this one is not quite over. But for those of us that design seasons ahead, we're always thinking about color. We're thinking about which shade might be the next big fashion hit.
I always find it fun to look at the Pantone trend reports. For me, they don't always seem spot on. However, they do provide some fun food for thought and possible direction. Funny, their forecast included "Honeysuckle" as a big color for Spring 2011. They're including this deep pinky-coral shade for Fall as well. (Note: This was my weakest selling shade for Spring 2011! Dunitz did show a combination of "Honeysuckle" with Coral orange.)

The New York, Paris & Milan runway shows are incredibly fun to check out... if even only online. The styles can be riveting. The big shoes are crazy. The makeup's outrageous. But through all that, I see color, color and more color. Brown is not just brown. It can be 'chocolate', 'espresso' or 'burnt sienna'. Grey is not just grey. It can be 'smoke', 'charcoal' or 'steel'. White is not just white. It can be 'pearl', 'swiss coffee' or 'birch'. The finesse comes with the precise shade and the combinations of shades. Shade and saturation of color is so important.

Sometimes you just have to go with your hunches. After looking at the runway shows, studying Pantone's forecast, shopping the stores to see what is "hottest" in home fashion & observing what people are wearing on the street, I begin to piece together my colors for the Dunitz & Company Collection. What I can tell at this point is my Fall 2011 will strongly focus on delicious coppers and a variety of saddle brown. I'll be throwing in a bit of jet black, plum, crimson, gunmetal and verdegris too.
It's going to be a yummy collection! You stay tuned now. From time to time I reveal crumbs on our facebook page. Do follow us there too. I can't wait to show you the big reveal at the summer trade shows. Thanks for reading. -ND

A Taste of Judaica

I've been asked time and time again to create some attractive beaded Judaica designs. Women from various temple gift stores have visited my trade show booth and asked. Friends with bat-mitzvah age daughters have asked. Fair traders have asked. I was asked for jewelry and yarmulkes for women. The trick for me was to create designs that were tasteful and weren't viewed as "religion" in your face.
When I was young I desperately wanted a Jewish star necklace that didn't look like the same necklace that was worn by all the girls I went to Sunday school with. One day I saw a silver star (with six points) that looked like a shooting star. It was in a jewelry store owned by a friend's dad. He agreed that he could cast one similar for me in gold. It was very subtle and I very much liked that about it. One of my nieces is now the proud owner of this necklace.
The point of mentioning this necklace from my childhood is to reflect on its subtle religious overtones. The beaded jewelry Dunitz will introduce in January 2011 is subtle in the same way. Absolutely any woman whether Jewish or not, would enjoy wearing the new cuffs. The Star of David is there... but it is far from gaudy. We'll be showing coordinating skinny bracelets, necklaces and earrings. And yes, they will be available in twelve new color combinations!
I'm also very excited about our new collection of yarmulkes for women. I'm not discriminating. Men can wear them too. However, my hunch is only women will want to wear these beaded beauties. We'll be showing 4 different designs....crocheted & beaded in twelve color schemes. Stay tuned. And, please share the good news about these fresh designs with your temple & synagogue gift shops. -ND

Giving Back. Puerta Abierta.

It's hard to believe that I've been working with the same group of women (and a few men) for over twenty years. These hard working people from Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala are absolutely amazing. They're determined, talented and kind. Many are parents and like most parents anywhere, they hope for a better and easier life for their children.
Approximately 75% of the indigenous population of Guatemala cannot read. In order to advance in life and living, the ability to read is a must. It is for this reason that I am so attracted to a children's library, Puerta Abierta that has been founded in and for the community in which I work. I'm thrilled that my donations can make such a difference in the lives of so many. (I must also add, that Puerta Abierta also has literacy classes for adults.) Please look at their website & blog to learn more. If you can, consider a donation to this worthy cause. It's wonderful to know that Puerta Abierta provides free classes and activities for so many children that would otherwise never have any extracurricular activities. - ND

Questions about Social Media

As I was tweeting this morning, I started to question various aspects of Social Media. I have a personal "Facebook" page...which is 100% personal. I have a business "Facebook" page which I use to communicate with Dunitz & Company clients and fans of Dunitz jewelry. I tweet. My Twitter account (profile: @nbdobd) represents me. My tweets include those of personal interest and many that relate to my business. The lines on Twitter are blurred. However, I don't tweet about anything that doesn't reflect on me in a way I wouldn't want to be seen. I have found it an excellent way to solidify relationships with people I work with. (I do have a few "colleagues" that use Twitter.)
What I've come to realize is I LOVE LOVE LOVE having new Twitter followers and new fans (thumbs up folks) attached to my business Facebook page. I confess, It's an ego boost. They don't come easily. The more I tweet, the more people follow me. This same relationship does not apply to business Facebook pages. And, the more I tweet, even though I occasionally tweet about the Dunitz Facebook page, tweeters don't give us the thumbs up on Facebook. I do realize that many of the people that follow me on Twitter are curious about what I have to report. Cynical me believes most people who decide to follow me are hoping I'll follow back -- just so they can increase their follower numbers. This has never been my Twitter strategy. I tend to follow business' I support, topics I'm interested in and my customers, if I can find them.
Facebook works the same for me. Nancy (personal FB page) gives the thumbs up to all retailers (that have biz FB pages I can find) that buy Dunitz jewelry for their stores. For me it is fun to watch what they report. Occasionally, I post something on their page. It seems that 92% of the time, the retailers don't follow the Dunitz Facebook page. This is always curious to me. I cross promote when I can. Whenever I can get pics from my retailers, I post their photos and assorted links on the Dunitz page. So- if any Dunitz retailers are reading this blog. EMAIL ME YOUR PHOTOS OF DUNITZ JEWELRY DISPLAYS and I promise to give you a plug - both on Facebook & Twitter. Hey maybe one or two of you will follow or give the thumbs up today...which will result in a (small) ego rub. More to come on this topic...for sure! - ND