FILIPINO designer Josie Natori wore a minimalist black outfit that showed off her statement jewelry perfectly — dangling dragon earrings in midnight silver accented with a white gemstone at the center.
“We just launched it. I haven’t got the chance to try everything,” Ms. Natori told BusinessWorld speaking of her new jewelry line.
The Natori Company, Inc. launched its first fine jewelry collection in a licensed partnership with direct-to-consumer and supply chain pioneer Angara.
“Growing up, I have always loved fine jewelry — diamonds,” Ms. Natori, who established the brand in 1977, said at the launch on Jan. 23 at Rustan’s Makati.
“I went into accessories with fashion jewelry first. It was a question of time in doing fine jewelry,” she said.
The Natori x Angara collection features the designer’s signature East-meets-West aesthetic with Angara’s gemstone and jewelry expertise. The jewelry — earrings, pendants, necklaces, rings, and bracelets — found their inspiration from Indochine, dragons, and the Kamon family crest.
“We strategized this collection with direct-to-consumer top of mind,” Ken Natori, President of Natori, said in a press release. “Customers will be able to order from our expansive fine jewelry collections; pieces are made to order, constructed and shipped within two days. This is truly a game-changing partnership for us.”
Ms. Natori noted that designing jewelry is as challenging as clothing.
“You work with different materials. It’s complicated. But the beauty about it is that it is forever,” she said. “It’s no different in clothes, you have to make sure that it fits.”
The collection is made of materials such as yellow gold, rose gold, midnight silver, diamonds, and pearls.
It will be available at Silver Vault at Rustan’s Makati for a limited period — until Jan. 31. Afterwards, the collection will be officially launched in retail stores in New York City.
Prices for the Natori jewelry range from $300 to $58,000. For information, visit angara.com and natori.com. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman
