Tom Binns wants to express himself on his own terms.
The jewelry designer opened his first store last month on Perry Street in New York’s West Village. Known for his edgy jewelry and equally edgy views on the industry, Binns said he opened the shop to properly represent himself without having to rely on other methods, such as editorial coverage or wholesale partners. Binns, a native of Belfast, Ireland said “Having your own storefront is a window to your world.’ Binns described the nearly 300-square-foot store as clean and minimal, so as to present jewelry collections he described as “full-on.The boutique exhibits over 30 collections of Binns’ jewelry, including one-off and couture pieces. Styles retail from $180 to $25,000. Binns is also including designs dating back 10 or 15 years, as well as collections that neither Henri Bendel nor Jeffrey. Other retail outlets that carry his collections include Net-a-porter.com and Shopbop.com.With its accessible prices and fashion-driven design, retailers appreciate Binns’ cutting-edge take on classic styles and say consumers today are buying into his big, fun fashion. He also appeals to a broad range of customers, from Amy Winehouse to Michelle Obama. Binns currently lives and works in Venice Beach, Calif., having left New York after 9/11. The designer is looking forward to reconnecting with the city that helped launch his career and would potentially open other stores, perhaps in Berlin or Tokyo. Tom is irreverent, fashion-driven and loves colors.
He approaches design in the way we approach our store experience insofar as always looking to surprise and excite the customer. He is always looking to give the unexpected, and he does so without even trying.
April 30th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Michelle Obama is such a wonderful woman. I believe that she would be an excellent first lady.:”"