(NORWALK, Conn.) – JCK Las Vegas offers a focal point for retailers looking to preview pieces and collections from new and emerging designers. It is at the JCK Design Center where fresh designs from up and coming designers and the latest collections from established jewelry innovators are showcased. This year, JCK introduced a new top honor, the Designer Showcase Award, which celebrates the unique point of view and individual aesthetic that designer jewelry brings to the consumer.
The award is voted on by ballot where the jewelry community is encouraged to vote for the top honor – the piece they feel represents the best of the field in overall design. Consideration included quality of craftsmanship, originality of design, and work that has a definite point of view and/or story to tell was given the most weight in the voting.
New York jewelry designer and finalist for JCK’s Rock Star contest, Walt Adler, received top honors. Adler, a former design director for David Yurman, comes from a family of jewelers in New Orleans. His great-grandfather founded Adler’s Jewelry in 1898. Walt’s training was in ergonomics at Tufts University and University College London, and in fine arts at the Museum School in Boston.
The recipient of several international design awards, Walt has been designing jewelry for the last 10 years. Adler’s designs have been described as a study of pattern and form sculpting the piece to feel precious in the hand. His designs incorporate distinctive elements and he is looking to expand his current lines into men’s and bridal collections. He made is debut at this year’s JCK Las Vegas event to much fanfare.
“Like all of the Rising Stars, we had great placement on the JCK Las Vegas Show floor. I felt honored and humbled to be surrounded by the incredibly talented designers in the Design Center,” Adler said. “Winning the award for my domed ring is a wonderful beginning for my company and acknowledgment from the community. I am blown away by the incredible people I met at the show.”
Adler had heard about JCK’s competition last year, and his company took off. “I had all the pieces in mind. I needed to bring them to life. I knew the patterns. I knew the forms. I wedded them together, and the company was born! This kind of recognition brings increased responsibility,” he says. “Jewelry is bought for an occasion. I have to take care now that every design rises to that occasion.”
The original pieces that won him a place among the Rising Stars can be seen at his website, www.waltadler.com.
“Winning the Designer Showcase award is quite an honor,” says Yancy Weinrich, Industry Vice President, JCK Events, “because there is so much design talent incorporating new techniques, materials and inspiration. The designers also come from so many interesting backgrounds and take such interesting journeys to get to here that their stories are often just as compelling as their designs. We are proud to say that many of our previous winners have gone on to achieve great success in the marketplace and we wish the same for Walt Adler and our previous winners and participants.”
The JCK Design Center is the destination for retailers to find one-of-a-kind pieces that enhance their collections. The Design Center will again feature many new designers at next year’s JCK Las Vegas. Review of designs and designer selections will begin in early 2012 and complete information will be contained on the website www.jckonline.com.
