Retrouvai Wins ‘The Next Now’ Competition

New York--A group of retailers and tastemakers have crowned the winner of the first The Next Now design competition.

Held last week in New York, the competition narrowed down a pool of more than 100 applicants to a group of 70 to present their lines in person to a panel of judges in a round-table setting.

 
The panel consisted of Joanne Teichman, founder and managing director of Dallas jeweler Ylang23; Alvani Patel, founder and CEO of fashion incubator TrendSeeder; Steven Alan, designer and CEO; Melissa Joy Manning, fine jewelry designer; Burak Cakmak, dean of the Parson’s School of Fashion; and Will Kahn, the fashion market and accessories director at Town & Country.

The panel chose Los Angeles-based fine jewelry label Retrouvaí from designer Kirsty Stone.

Formerly called Supply + Demand Jewelry, the line was renamed this year. Retrouvaí is a take on the French word “retrouvailles,” which means “the joy in reconnecting with someone from your past,” Stone explained.

The name is appropriate for Stone’s classic design aesthetic. Entirely made in L.A., her pieces embody timeless style and possess an heirloom feel, but incorporate a touch of the unexpected. Her signet rings, for example, feature magical creatures like flying pigs and unicorns.



“Retrouvaí is about reinterpreting very classic motifs that have been passed down through generations, and combining these with an attitude that embodies the modern woman,” said Stone. “It incorporates an element of nostalgia with a modern delivery; jewelry that women can wear with everything and have for decades.”

Stone previously worked for an architectural manufacturing firm. She shadowed a high-volume jeweler in the evenings and on weekends for nine months to learn the jewelry business, then launched her own line less than two years ago.

Stone currently works in 14-karat gold, often incorporating diamonds, South Sea pearls and mother- of-pearl in her designs. Her designs range from $600 to $5,000 retail, with the majority of her pieces retailing between $1,000 and $1,500.

Stone’s prize will include a purchase order from Ylang23 and promotion on the store’s e-commerce site, 20 hours of mentorship from Teichman and Manning, a one-year membership to TrendSeeder and a presentation to the Steven Alan buying team.

"The applicant pool was amazing,” said Teichman in a release, “and in addition to the winner, we will be extending