I wasn’t really sure what to expect at the PeruModa show. I didn’t know much about the design aesthetic of Peruvian jewelry, but I’ll admit that I anticipated it to be kind of ethnic: maybe colored beads, some hammered effects. I didn’t have a clear picture in my mind of what the jewelry would look like, because I’ve had limited exposure to Peruvian designs. But with one day down, I now have a better idea of Peru’s jewelry situation, which primarily includes silver, good craftsmanship, excellent prices, and modern interpretations of Inca-inspired motifs.
Home Shopping Network personality and jewelry designer Stella Chow of Jade of Yesteryear, whom I met yesterday, may have summarized it best. “Peru is the new sacred ground for quality,” she explained. Labor prices in China have risen, and few possess a passion for the attention to detail involved in production, but Peruvians still “love making jewelry,” she added.
A representative from Richline was also present and has worked with several firms here for a few years. “They’re real artisans,” explained Linda Levin of the buying team. And with karat gold coming back into popularity in the U.S., Levin was eager for some new products to source for her inventory.
So with the occasional help of an interpreter (I don’t speak Spanish, and many exhibitors did), I interviewed a number of jewelry firms exhibiting at the fair. Six of these companies are featured here in mini profiles; expect more on Friday.
Headquarters: Catacaos, Peru
Company age: 9 years
U.S. accounts: 1 retailer in Los Angeles
Trade fairs: PeruModa
Minimum buy-in: None
My takeaway: Masters of filigree offering an incredible value; hire them to make your private-label designs. And, all the jewelry buyers went nuts for their hair pieces.
Ring and headband in silver, $180 and $450 triple keystone
Headquarters: Lima, Peru
Company age: 27 years
U.S. accounts: 5
Trade fairs: PeruModa
Minimum buy-in: 300 grams of silver per style
My takeaway: Has an American line called Chiara Ramon
Necklace with onyx and bangles in 24k gold-plated silver and silver, $360 and $255 triple keystone
Headquarters: Lima, Peru
Company age: 8 years
U.S. accounts: 3
Trade fairs: PeruModa, a Colombian lifestyle fair, and an accessories show in Spain
Minimum buy-in: None
My takeaway: Horn from cattle is pretty and offers an even more earthy-looking alternative to wooly mammoth ivory.
Cuff, necklace, and earrings (with silver components), $51, $35, and $17
Headquarters: Arequipa, Peru
Company age: 10 years
U.S. accounts: None
Trade fairs: PeruModa and Apec Feriados
Minimum buy-in: None
My takeaway: Feminine styles and works often with that mysterious white organic semi-clay-like compound. (If you know what it is, please weigh in on the comment function.)
Bracelet with zircon and earrings in silver, $342 and $210 triple keystone
Bridal headpiece in base metal, pearls, and that mysterious organic substance, $903
Headquarters: Lima, Peru
Company age: 6 years
U.S. accounts: One store in Oregon
Trade fairs: PeruModa
Minimum buy-in: None
My takeaway: Strong modern aesthetic combined with some fabricated components; think of the line as the love child of Brazil’s Antonio Bernardo and any German designer with a strong architectural look.
Ring, earrings, and necklace in silver and gold-plated silver, $420, $180, and $420 triple keystone
Foldable fabricated necklace in silver, $780 triple keystone
Headquarters: Cusco, Peru
Company age: 7 years
U.S. accounts: None
Trade fairs: PeruModa
Minimum buy-in: None
My takeaway: Traditional-looking Peruvian cotton pieces with silver accents could be cute for an entry-level shopper.
Bracelet in silver with natural-color seeds, $51 triple keystone
The Style 360 blog is your editorial source for the newest jewelry, trends, market analysis, trade show insights, designer profiles, and more.
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine