Badgley Mischka, which drapes A-list socialites and Hollywood celebrities alike in its beaded gowns, is aiming to bring its customers some accoutrements.
The fashion brand, designed by Mark Badgley and James Mischka, is expanding into a new category: a licensed line of costume jewelry to bow for fall.
The company, which is owned by Iconix Brand Group, has added a plethora of categories in recent years. The firm now has 16 licenses in its portfolio, including handbags, cold weather accessories, footwear, intimate apparel and belts, in a bid to exude the full Badgley Mischka lifestyle. Many of the new categories were shown on the designers’ runway in February.
“We’ve been thinking of doing jewelry for two years,” said Badgley, who added the firm considered doing fine jewelry but decided to go with New York-based fashion jewelry company Sequin for more dramatic looks that are decidedly easier on the wallet than a suite of diamonds.
Badgley and Mischka said that their signature Indian beading and embroidery are inspired by vintage jewelry. The duo takes inspiration from vintage pieces from Chanel, Miriam Haskell and Indian maharaja jewelry.
“Our customer is getting younger and younger. It’s a paradox in the fashion industry,” said Mischka. “A lot of women don’t want to buy a diamond necklace. [With costume] she can travel with it.”
The line is divided into day, evening and bridal. Day styles include a cuff bracelet made of velvet ribbon with a jeweled filigree buckle. Examples of evening looks range from a bib necklace of hematite stones flanked with white crystals to a pair of oversize white crystal shoulder duster earrings. Pyrite, topaz and freshwater and baroque pearls are also included in the pieces.
The firm will show the line to retailers this week. The collection wholesales from $50 to $500. The designers are aiming for stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, in addition to smaller specialty doors.
This is the first license for Sequin, which was founded in 2001 in Manhattan by sisters Kim and Linda Renk. Their proprietary jewelry brand is sold at retailers such as Henri Bendel and Nordstrom and on the Home Shopping Network. The company also produces private label jewelry for stores ranging from Express to Target.