New York-based sustainable jewellery designer Joan Hornig is increasing her affect by collaborating with David Assil and his Beverly Hills boutique Madison Maison on a philanthropic shoe, boot and purse collaboration. Designed by Assil, all items in Madison Maison X Joan Hornig are handmade in Italian ateliers and bejeweled with a Hornig design impressed by her Pavé The Means® social enterprise jewellery vary. (Hornig’s jewels are additionally obtainable by way of Madison Maison’s boutique and web site.) This inventive effort unites fashion with philanthropy, for one hundred pc of Joan Hornig’s gross sales income from every merchandise bought within the collaboration will probably be donated to the 501(c)(3) of the purchaser’s alternative by way of the Joan B. Hornig Basis. As Madison Maison’s proprietor and designer Assil described, “That is the place luxurious jewellery, bejeweled sneakers and baggage develop into autos for personalized charitable giving.” On Might 4 from 10 a.m. to six p.m., Madison Maison is launching this collaboration at its Brighton Means boutique and online with a courtesy 15 p.c low cost on all merchandise. Through the occasion, Hornig’s Pavé The Means® jewels can even be on provide contained in the boutique.

Style-Ahead Philanthropic Footwear

Assil, who has been in enterprise for 35 years, designs high-end, refined, fashion-forward, handmade sneakers and baggage made by artisanal Italian factories. In response to him, “Joan’s been a buyer for a while. Once I came upon about her philanthropic jewellery idea and noticed a few of her designs, I proposed a collaboration primarily based round one in every of her lock pendants, and collectively we scaled it all the way down to adorn loafers, excessive heels and boots.” (The elegant little lock is made in Italy of brass and gleams with a galvanized gold coating.) “Joan is an exceptional inventive companion due to her style, expertise, enthusiasm and philanthropic mission,” Assil enthused. Different footwear kinds that Assil designed for the collaboration options tiny golden horse bits, additionally impressed by Hornig’s jewellery.

As Hornig defined by way of e mail, she wished the lock on the footwear and purses to convey such qualities as energy and preciousness, “like the ladies who select to put on Pavé The Means® Jewellery. A lock represents defending one thing of significance. It’s additionally a metaphor,” she mused, “for unlocking one’s passions, objective and alternatives.” Through the design course of, she recalled, “I relied upon David’s experience, however it was a very good expertise as a result of we each labored for the proper mix of vogue, utility and worth, protecting high quality points on the forefront. He concerned me in each step of the best way and I had enjoyable working with him to decide on the colours of the leathers chosen, heel heights and the scaling of the lock motif.”

Hornig’s collaboration with Madison Maison is essential to her for quite a few causes. “It engages people who find themselves not essentially looking for jewellery,” she wrote, “whereas it extends the attain of Pavé The Means® and expands it into a way of life model. This collaboration is a dream come true with an awesome companion,” she continued. “David Assil shares my aesthetic values and dedication to giving again.” Whereas Hornig’s too discreet to say so, the helpful side of this collaboration makes strategic sense. On condition that sneakers, boots and baggage are necessities, consumers could possibly justify these purchases maybe slightly simpler than they will shopping for jewellery.

Timeless Design Worth, Materials Worth

Assil, a self-taught designer, says his strategy facilities round 4 parts. Primary is that every design transcends generations, time and conditions, in order that it stylishly fits all ages for varied events. “A 16-year-old woman can put on the sneakers or baggage, and so can a 70-year-old lady,” Assil stated. “Every design additionally has to face the take a look at of time. I take a look at a design and ask myself, may a girl have worn these sneakers or this bag 20 years in the past? Can they put on them 10 years from now? Can this design be worn with costume in addition to informal outfits?”

Naturally, match and supplies of main significance. “My sneakers and boots should match amazingly properly and be very comfy. This I guarantee by working with glorious lasts that I’m conversant in.” Third, he detailed, “I purpose for creating merchandise of the very best high quality.” Assil works with fastidiously vetted, multi-generational family-owned Italian factories, grasp tanneries and high-end equipment ateliers. Each kinds of loafers within the Madison Maison X Joan Hornig venture are made in Italy by the Mara Bini manufacturing facility, owned by the Pengo household. In response to Assil, “Francesco Pengo is tremendously revered within the shoe world and the Penga household is fantastic. I work principally along with his daughter, Chiara.” Assil designs and co-brands Madison Maison by Mara Bini sneakers. “I’m the one designer on the planet who has this association with Mara Bini,” he associated. “I take advantage of a particular leather-based which Mara Bini supplies.”

Previous World, Italian Grasp Artisanship

The development course of, or sachetto, entails over 200 steps to make every pair of loafers. “These sneakers are made to suit like a glove and that is why they’re so comfy,” Assil stated. Concerning the lock-bejeweled excessive heels, these are made in Italy by Manufacturing facility Fratelli Russo. “This second era, family-owned manufacturing facility labored with me for 14 months to develop this heel into an ideal becoming pump.” “The tall hand-stained metallic boot is from the King Tartufoli manufacturing facility, which like all the makers Assil hand picks to work with, “are all about high quality,” he stated.

“Lastly,” the designer concludes, “my sneakers and baggage are priced in order that the shopper feels revered. As in, my buyer is getting an incredible pair of bejeweled sneakers with out feeling like she has been pick-pocketed.” Costs vary from $495 for lock-adorned excessive heels and $550 for lock-adorned loafers. Whereas excessive boots that are bejeweled with locks are priced at $1,095, equestrian-influenced boots adorned with horse bits additionally go for $1,095.

The philanthropic mannequin that Madison Maison and Hornig are utilizing to make donations follows that of the Pavé The Means® social enterprise. “Every buyer will decide the charity to obtain 100% of my portion of the acquisition,” Hornig expalined. “The truth that David can be incorporating jewellery designs into purses is an added dream. His designs are distinctive and his dedication to high quality and respect for the buyer’s values matches my very own. He has a robust sense of favor that merges classicism and innovation, present vogue and lasting worth.” By empowering purchasers to decorate with fashion, take pleasure in being philanthropists and allow non-profits they care about to learn, Madison Maison X Joan Hornig are writing an intriguing new chapter within the historical past of bejeweled footwear.