The announcement coincided with its full-year results, with growth driven by its jewelry brands.
Ark Fine Jewelry is the Winner of ‘The Next Now’
The new fine jewelry line first made an appearance at the JA New York show this spring before winning the second edition of the emerging designer competition.
New York--Less than a year since the inaugural competition, “The Next Now” has declared a winner of its second edition.
Out of 32 finalists, Ark Fine Jewelry took home top honors last Wednesday at Tumblr headquarters in New York, where judging for The Next Now was held.
Designer Ann Korman said she was wasn’t expecting to win and felt “overwhelmed and grateful that people related to the work.”
“I know that the competition was started to support emerging designers, to give them a platform and to share their work and see what we as designers are doing, which I think is so important,” Korman told National Jeweler.
The Next Now is the brainchild of Dallas jewelry store Ylang 23 and Trendseeder, a kind of emerging brand incubator.
A panel of judges, including editors and designers, selected Korman as the winner, and she’ll receive mentorship, a meeting with the Barneys jewelry buying team and an order from Ylang 23, among other benefits.
“Many of The Next Now’s judges approached me individually to tell me how much they loved Ark Fine Jewelry,” said Alysa Teichman, vice president of business development at Ylang 23. “I am personally thrilled that we will be placing an order of Ann’s pieces and carrying her line at Ylang 23. I think our customers will love the freshness and quality of the pieces.”
For Korman, Ylang 23 will be her very first retail account.
“I’m really excited to be working with the team at Ylang 23 and to get the line in the marketplace so people can actually start wearing it,” she said.
Ark may be newly launched, but the line represents the culmination of many of Korman’s passions that she has developed over time.
Korman’s background encompasses fine art (specifically painting), some work in fashion at Condé Nast and as a freelance stylist. She’s worked more recently in the nutrition and wellness industries and as a yoga teacher.
Despite a lifelong interest in jewelry, it was the latter aspects of her career that actually got her directly involved in the medium, when a guru whom Korman met during her yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, India
Korman worked on the line for three years, traveling back and forth between India and her home base in Los Angeles, then immersed herself in the downtown Los Angeles jewelry district, doing some private label work for various brands.
Finally, Korman began work on her own line, which despite only making its first appearance on Instagram last November, gained notice quickly enough to land the designer a spot in JA’s New Designer Gallery this spring.
Korman says she is inspired by travels all over the world with her family, as well as the energetic properties of different stones, a concept she learned from her guru in Rishikesh.
She has so far gravitated toward mine-cut, French-cut and Herkimer diamonds, moonstones and light blue sapphires, though she is branching out into different colors and gemstones in some of her works in progress. “I’m actually doing a new piece with aquamarine and a new piece with minty-green tourmaline,” she said.
Korman hopes that each of her pieces can communicate a meaningful and empowering energy to its wearer.
“While I’m creating my jewelry, the aim is to give people something that is not only beautiful to wear but to keep them going and to empower them and uplift them,” she said, explaining that her work as a nutritionist, which connected her with clients all over the world, showed her how much people “needed inspiration and something to empower themselves.”
RELATED CONTENT: Piece of the Week: Ark Jems’ Creation NecklaceShe continued, “I want to put a lot of intention behind each piece.”
This intention manifests in the form of style names that reference the supernatural or otherworldly--names like Halo, Creation and Mystic--and a visual presence that is at once ethereal and bold.
“Ann’s jewelry merges so well sentiment, color and beautiful production,” Teichman emphasized.
As for Korman’s intention for the future of Ark Fine Jewelry, the designer has set a wise goal for herself.
“What I really want to do is define my line so that in 30 years if you see something by me, you would recognize it,” she explained. “My goal is to make amazing pieces of jewelry that stand out as being my designs and nobody else’s and to find my voice as an artist.”
The Next Now’s purpose is to help her hone that vision; Korman’s already been advised to change her brand name from her original moniker, Ark Jems, to the less confusing Ark Fine Jewelry--advice that Korman quickly heeded.
Korman is ready to continue on her brand’s journey and believes in the power of perseverance.
She said: “My winning this is just an example of what happens if you just keep staying committed to your goals and to your vision. And to just keep at it.”
The Latest
Looking ahead, the retailer said it sees “enormous potential” in Roberto Coin’s ability to boost its branded jewelry business.
Jewelry trade show veterans share strategies for engaging buyers, managing your time effectively, and packing the right shoes.
Despite the rising prices, consumers continue to seek out the precious metal.
This little guy’s name is Ricky and he just sold for more than $200,000 at Sotheby’s Geneva jewelry auction.
Though its website has been down for a week, Christie’s proceeded with its jewelry and watch auctions on May 13-14, bringing in nearly $80 million.
Despite the absence of “The Allnatt,” Sotheby’s Geneva jewelry auction totaled $34 million, with 90 percent of lots sold.
Tradeshow risks are real. Get tips to protect yourself before, during and after and gain safety and security awareness for your business.
Lilian Raji gives advice to designers on how to make the most of great publicity opportunities.
The mining company wants to divest its 70 percent holding in the Mothae Diamond Mine in an effort to streamline its portfolio.
Why do so many jewelers keep lines that are not selling? Peter Smith thinks the answer lies in these two behavioral principles.
The “Argyle Phoenix” sold for more than $4 million at the auction house’s second jewels sale.
Owner David Mann is heading into retirement.
While overall sales were sluggish, the retailer said its non-bridal fine jewelry was a popular choice for Valentine’s Day.
The mining giant also wants to offload its platinum business as part of an overhaul designed to “unlock significant value.”
Christie's is selling one of the diamonds, moving forward with its Geneva jewelry auction despite the cyberattack that took down its website.
The ad aims to position platinum jewelry as ideal for everyday wear.
Retailers can customize and print the appraisal brochures from their store.
The move follows a price-drop test run in Q4 and comes with the addition of a “quality assurance card” from GIA for some loose diamonds.
The site has been down since Thursday evening, just ahead of its spring auctions.
The late former U.S. Secretary’s collection went for quadruple the sale’s pre-sale estimate.
Three fifth graders’ winning designs were turned into custom jewelry pieces in time for Mother’s Day.
Kimberly Adams Russell is taking over the role from her father, David Adams, marking the third generation to hold the title.
As a token of womanhood, this necklace depicts when Venus was born from the sea.
The deal gives the retailer control over the distribution of Roberto Coin jewelry in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and Central America.
Show your mother some love with a piece of fine jewelry.
The company’s Easton location will remain open.