The Ayala Bar Spring 2010 Collection Arrives & The Ayala Bar Interview

Winter is almost over and spring has arrived at Jewish Gift Place in a big, bold, beautiful way!  The only word to describe Ayala Bar’s Spring 2010 collection is breathtaking.  In fact, words cannot do this collection justice.  You really have to  see the pieces in the  Ayala Bar Spring 2010 Collection for yourself.  The colors are vibrant and fresh, the crystals are sparkling and clear, and the designs are truly inspired and utterly unique in every way.  Learn just what inspires  Ayala in the Ayala Bar interview with Risa.  Here’s an excerpt from the interview:

Where do you get your inspiration?

From everything and anything. From day to day life: A random composition of food on a plate, a film I saw the other night, stuff scattered around the room, and so on. The list can be endless… But of course, above all, matter and material from which creativity becomes possible. Read the entire Ayala Bar interview.

Do I sound like a fan?  Well, I am and you will be, too, once you take a look at this amazing collection.  What I really love about Ayala Bar’s necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, is that they can be worn day or night, with just about anything.  The designs in the Ayala Bar collection can be worn to dress up jeans and a t-shirt for an incredible pop of color and flair, or with a simple cocktail dress to infuse your own personal style.  I can 100% guarantee the compliments you receive on your jewelry will be plentiful!

Whether your style is classic or hip, Ayala Bar’s Spring Collection has something that will appeal to everyone.  Many of the pieces coordinate, but surely no one can fault you if you want to mix and match.  It’s important to note that Ayala Bar limits her collection run to six months, so start choosing your favorites from this collection now.  Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth, full of color and life.  Celebrate spring, celebrate life!

Hamsa Hand Jewelry in Style

Lauren Conrad, Ashley Tisdale, Lindsay Lohan, and Nicole Ritchie wear hamsas

The other day, I was in a department store with my 14 year old daughter and we were checking out the jewelry showcases. I immediately spotted a hamsa necklace and a small selection of other hamsa jewelry — earrings, bracelets, etc. Needless to say I was surprised! At Jewish Gift Place, we have always carried hamsa jewelry, as well as wall hamsas and other hamsa hand home accessories, but I have not seen them carried at the local department store.

Celebrities Wearing Hamsa Hand

I pointed them out to my daughter and she told me that she loves hamsas and that they are really popular. She told me that many celebrities were wearing them including Lindsay Lohan, Zac Efron, Nicole Ritchie and Lauren Conrad from the hit MTV show, The Hills. I was pretty surprised. I had known about hamsas as an amulet of protection in many religions, but I had no idea they were a fashion trend! “It’s like a high five, Mom,” she said. Although I know the historic symbolism isn’t quite as simple as that, I thought it was great that the hamsa hand was becoming part of popular culture. Note to self: ask my daughter about these things more often! She told me that kids at school sometimes hold up their hamsas and say “talk to the hand!” as a little joke. Funny, I thought!

Hamsas at Jewish Gift Place

Risa Borsykowsky, owner of Jewish Gift Place and someone always on the lookout for beautiful and meaningful handcrafted merchandise, brought hamsas to Jewish Gift Place before it was a craze. When I first starting working for Risa, the hamsas immediately caught my eye. I particularly love the Michal Golan hamsas, especially her black hamsa pendant necklace which has become my signature gift to friends and family. I also love all of her wall hamsas which are, to me, the perfect housewarming gift. Last Hanukkah, Risa gave me this beautiful Michal Golan Colorful Freshwater Pearl Wall Hamsa which never fails to get noticed by visitors to my home. It is one my most prized possessions!

A Symbol of Peace

After that shopping excursion, I was definitely excited about the hamsa as a new fashion trend. A short time later, my daughter reported back to me with something new she had learned about the popularity of the hamsa hand. She told me that recently, Jewish activists for Middle East peace have begun wearing the hamsa as a symbol of the shared traditions between the Islamic and Jewish faiths. It was something she read about after the Iran election crisis. I was really happy to hear that. Young people seem to have connected with this powerful symbol, not only as a symbol of style, but as a symbol of hope – and that should give us all something to “high five” about.

Learn more about hamsa hand symbology.

See our entire collection of hamsas.

Belts are Back in a Big Way!

For those of you who have been living under a rock for the last year – belts are back! Everywhere you look – magazines, movies, tv shows – belts are everywhere! These glorious accessories are a huge fashion statement and are expected to continue to be so through at least the summer of 2009.

Carrie Bradshaw got noticed wearing a belt throughout the new Sex and the City summer blockbuster – as did her chic gal pals.

Some of us have always appreciated belts – so this sudden revival comes as no surprise and feels more like a ‘so, what took you so long?’ Some of us are belt and belt buckle collectors – always looking for that new design to add to our collection. Well, whether you are a fashionista, a belt wearer from way back, or a collector of fine artisan crafted belt buckles, here at Jewish Gift Place we have some news that is sure to excite you!

This week we have added Jewish designer Michal Golan’s gorgeous line of belt buckles to our collection. They are simply stunning – meticulously handcrafted and decked out in Swarovski crystals and natural stones.

The belt buckles come in two different sizes – a smaller, more petite size for those of us who like to be noticed, but in an understated way. They also come in a larger, bolder size for those women who enjoy the ‘wow factor’ and, in many cases, suitable in design and size for a man. The belt buckles, which come along with a black or brown leather belt, are really versatile and can be worn dressed up to the nines at an art gallery opening or to a mommy and me class with your two year old. There is something here for everyone.

Buy one to congratulate yourself on a job well done at the office or for losing those last five baby pounds – you can see your waist now! Also think about these belts as bridesmaids gifts, birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, or for any occasion you’d like to show someone how special they are to you.

We hope you will take some time to check out the new collection of handcrafted belt buckles and please, let us know what you think! We think you will like what you see. Whether for yourself or a loved one, these belts will definitely be something that is reached for again and again to add that special ‘pop’ to an outfit that needs a lift!

Jewish Designers Take Center Stage

I have always been fascinated with fashion. Growing up on the lower east side of Manhattan, with the bargain mecca of Orchard Street beneath me and the clothing racks of the Garment District above me, I have always been interested in what is new and in style.

Back in the late 90s, my husband worked for several years as personal security to Calvin Klein and this gave me my first real peak into the glitz and glamour of the fashion world. Every day when he came home I would interrogate him about the designers and the fashions. Even today I never miss an episode of Project Runway and my heart skips a beat when they show that gorgeous “Needle Threading a Button” sculpture on 7th Avenue in NYC!

Well when I read this morning about a new documentary that is currently in production, I knew it would be right up my alley. The documentary by Pacific Street Films entitled Dressing America: Jews in the Garment Industry, “will tell the story of an often overlooked side of this colorful and vibrant industry – an industry which provided opportunities for countless entrepreneurs, largely Jewish, who blended business acumen with artistic flair – doing for American style what their counterparts in Hollywood did for the cinema.”

The documentary got me thinking about the contributions of Jewish designers in both clothing and jewelry design. From Judith Ripka to Marc Jacobs, the rich history and notable contributions of these amazing artists is undeniable. For many decades, especially during the postwar era, Jewish designers purposefully hid their heritage, but this is definitely changing.

More recently, designers have really been bringing Judaism to the front of the runway! Last summer, designer Alexandre Herchcovitch’s modest show was the talk of the fashion town with a strong use of Jewish themes in his couture line. The Jewish Star was big and I mean big!

Here at Jewish Gift Place, we have an incredible collection of talented Jewish artists creating stylish Judaica! Our Star of David Jewelry is incredibly popular and we are adding new items every day! Here are some pieces that are sure to get you noticed even if you are not on the catwalk!

Sex and the City Makes Judaica Stylish

The premiere of the hotly anticipated Sex and the City movie has theaters everywhere experiencing sold out shows like never before. It is a phenomenon. Fans across the world are flocking to see it and its debut broke the record for best opening day ever for a romantic comedy.

Each fan of the show has a favorite among the ‘girls’ and Charlotte York, Jewish convertee, definitely is one of my favorites. WASPy Charlotte, after years of unsuccessful relationships and one failed marriage, meets Jewish lawyer, Harry Goldenblatt, and falls in love.

Charlotte is a traditional girl and immediately takes on the traditions of Judaism with a joyfulness and hilarity that is such a part of the show. She is seen preparing challah bread and matzo-ball soup, and serving potato kugel and brisket.

As Carrie Bradshaw says at the beginning of the movie, people come to New York for the two L’s: love and labels. The show has always been all about style and there is no doubt that Charlotte York would love the stylish Judaica that we carry at Jewish Gift Place.

Charlotte York is an art dealer on the show, so it would be no surprise if her character were drawn to the amazing handcrafted Judaica that we carry and the new artists we are adding everyday.

We never get to see the wedding band that Charlotte selected for Harry, but with her exquisite taste it would definitely be something like our beautiful hebrew wedding band called the soul mate ring.

Charlotte’s wedding was one of the highest rated episodes of the show ever and fans of the show remember when Harry could not break the ceremonial glass underfoot. Maybe if he was breaking a Gary Rosenthal Jewish wedding glass he wouldn’t have had that problem!

Charlotte and Harry tried for so long to have children and finally adopted adorable little Lily Goldenblatt. Charlotte is a romantic and she decorated her daughter’s room all pink and girly just as we would expect from Charlotte! The Gary Rosenthal Baby Girl Tzedakah Box would be something we could expect to find in that little pink princess room!

Since Charlotte has an eye for the unique and classically simple, a nursery mezuzah like the Emily Rosenfeld pewterNoah’s Ark mezuzah would fit right in as something that would hang in the nursery of brand new baby Rose Goldenblatt.

We know that Charlotte and Harry’s love will stand the test of time! What would Charlotte give Harry for their 25th wedding anniversary? Why, maybe an Jewish gift something like our Eduardo Milieris modern copper watch, of course! Elegant and so artistic!

If you are someone who is looking for stylish Judaica that would make even the Sex and the City divas proud, check out our collection. You will find a label you love!