New York City resident Cindy Lee was named the “Up and Coming Designer” for 2004.

The competition, sponsored by Samuel Aaron International of Long Island City, N.Y., and QVC UK shopping network for the United Kingdom, was open to all jewelry design students at the N.Y. Fashion Institute of Technology. More than 30 applicants submitted their top jewelry designs along with a writing sample detailing their inspirations. Lee was selected the winner by a panel of FIT professors, and QVC UK and Samuel Aaron executives.

“There are so many talented students at FIT and it was a very difficult decision to select just one but Cindy has extraordinary abilities not only in her design ability but the way she verbally express’ her feelings and thoughts, which is prefect for television retai,l” said John Peters, Samuel Aaron’s vice president of Sales and Marketing.

Lee will be working with Samuel Aaron to develop a full range of jewelry expected to be aired and hosted by Lee in Spring of 2005 in the United Kingdom on QVC UK.

JCK