Hi All!
Well, after trying (somewhat unsuccessfully) to make a decent living
off my one-of-a-kind, hand-fabricated jewelry, I have decided to
branch out into a production line. My vision is to do a very
limited edition (say, 10-20 copies of each piece) and very high-end
line (quality would be similar to Cathy Waterman, but aesthetic is
totally different), which I would place in a luxury department store
(like Barneys) or boutiques (like Twist or Maxfield LA).
The only way that I can get inspired to do this is to design pieces
that I cannot do on my own–that is, using techniques that I am not
proficient in, having custom-carved/cut stones incorporated, etc…
So what I have at this point is a batch of drawings that I am really
excited about, but I have no idea where to go from here.
The way I’ve envisioned it is taking my drawings to one or more
contract services companies and having them produce sample pieces
from start to finish. Based on my current drawings, I’d need
services such as stone carving, wax model-making, casting,
fabrication, stone setting, and finishing services.
Does anyone have any thoughts or guidance on this process? Any
recommendations for manufacturers that work well with designers?
Any general thoughts on the feasibility of my initial vision?
I will be at the Tucson shows (and at the Orchid dinner) and would
GREATLY appreciate recommendations for good people/companies to talk
to.
Thanks in advance for your input!
Warmly,
Amanda Linn