Will it Take the K.ing of Jewels to Capture the Queen of Your Heart?

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us; the time where it’s customary to celebrate the love of our lives in ways that truly matter. If there was ever something invented to capture a woman’s heart, then its jewellery and its things that sparkle. In the 21st Century, flowers and chocolate can only ever be the ‘bubble wrap’ to something with bigger, deeper meaning. For the 21st Century woman size doesn’t necessarily matter but quality does. Some of the sharp readers amongst you may have seen the title and thought the spelling of King was some kind of typo, but it is in fact the name of a new and upcoming artist K.ing with her latest jewellery Collection “Diamond K.ing”. A brand with an outspoken mandate in that it promises to treat each and every wearer as a Queen.

Model: Frances Lane Jewellery: K.ing Photography: Active 8 Images

Diamond K.ing is the gemstone of Inga Klabyte, who chose to employ everything that life threw at her to polish and reveal her inner diamond. Now under the artistic name of K.ing she makes a living by helping others to do the same. I find it astonishing to think that out of all the different types of companies one could create, the one she chose was jewellery making. However upon meeting her it is easy to see why; just like a diamond, the brand K.ing embodies and accentuates all her key strengths. For example, the number of hours that Inga puts into each design, the immaculate attention to detail which goes into each and every piece and the importance that she places on having each piece unique to the wearer.

The value of not taking things for granted is reflected in the “Diamond K.ing” logo. What appears to be a playing card of the ‘King of Diamonds’. Possession of this card can mean the difference between winning and losing and is essential in a hand of ‘Royal Flush’. In the same way K.ing jewellery is designed to be truly exclusive to the wearer and that absolute possession of the wearer is essential.

Model: Meriely Araujo Jewellery: K.ing Photography: Active 8 Images

Model: Meriely Araujo
Jewellery: K.ing
Photography: Active 8 Images

I find myself pondering on why since time began jewellery has held such an elevated position with the sole purpose of making someone feel special. Why, Inga sparkles even talking about it, she truly believes that every woman is a Queen of someone’s heart and should be treated as such. Listening to her I find myself drawn off into a different world that as a man I had never truly appreciated: “Jewellery is the Queen of every woman’s wardrobe, it’s the jewel of Queen’s crown. There is no Queen with no jewels, simple as that. The truth is women love a good fairy tale crowned with dream come true relationships promising a sparkling future. If you manage to wake up the Sleeping Beauty inside her, you are and will always be her Prince Charming. So is she “Her Grace of Lace” like Queen Victoria or irresistible Scheherazade of “One Thousand and One Arabian Nights”? Is she romantic “Queen by Nature” or your personal Muse of “Eternal Inspiration”? Is she “The Conqueror of Your Heart” like Cleopatra or simply “The Fairest of Them All”?

“When I was a child, I saw people treating my mum as someone ordinary, when to me she was Special, a one off, someone who could never be replaced. From that moment K.ing was almost born to say: “You are the Queen of my Heart”.

Hence K.ing started out by making her mum feel special by creating unique pieces hand-made especially for her. Her mum must have been deeply touched as she took K.ing straight to Arts college entrance exams. This was followed by a Degree in Visual Arts and a Masters in Arts and Cultural studies as well as work placements all over the world. While specialists may have thought she was ‘Ace’ Inga knew she was actually a ‘K.ing’ by proving that everyone can be special and should be treated as such. There’s something in that message for everyone out there who questions their own uniqueness.

Today, Diamond K.ing is limited edition, unique wear. It is bespoke in that it is created directly for the wearer with your choice of metals, certified diamond cut Swarovski Element Crystals in all colours. There is also a ready-hand-made collection ready for you to take home or order to be posted to you straight away. The whole Collection is also there for you to rent for specific events so that you too can be feel like a celebrity on night out or even in your own home.

I have to admit I am smitten by the collection, seeing Swarovski Crystals Elements which have a unique sparkle and brilliance magnified by a choice of gold and silver. Looking at the various sets there is almost an endless variation of colours, shapes and sizes that range from earrings, to bracelets and necklaces to headpieces that can only be found at Diamond K.ing.

At a moment like this being a typical man, one’s thoughts turn to cost. I ask the question; expecting to hear rhetoric along the lines of ‘if you have to ask then you can’t afford it’. Instead, her response is much less faint inducing. For individual unique wear her prices are incredible, the smallest pieces start at just £20 and can go up to ten or hundred times more depending on the project in mind.

Why diamond-cut and not diamonds? “Genuine Crystal Jewellery has got more advantages to me as an artist and a woman than the offcuts of diamonds found on the high street. If a man brought me a diamond big enough to being able truly appreciate it though I would feel obliged to call the authorities, the price people paid for diamonds, and not only monetary, is far too high, I am a Queen with a heart and I chose not to work with diamonds who are associated with pain not love. That’s why I love what authentic diamond cut Swarovski Crystal Elements stands for.”

So what was the reaction to Diamond K.ing’s wares? Well, Jewellery was invented to conquer woman’s heart and that is exactly what K.ing does. The reaction of her other customers was evident; each woman’s eyes lighting up, instinctively reacting to the sparkle and wanting to touch and try on the items.

Inga smiles at her customers with real genuine sincerity “I’ve never seen a woman who is not a “jewellery person”, even if some said so at first. She breaths in, her chest and chin rises and her eyes start sparkling more than any man-made jewel; especially when time is taken to match the jewels to her inner character, her dreams and her aspirations for the future.”

When you put it like that I have to agree, even if just for one day where all the other distractions and mandatories of life are put aside, Valentine’s should be like the fairy tale your loved ones deserve. If there is a dream worth chasing then it should be the one where we all live ‘Happy Ever After’ the closer we can get to making that fantasy a reality the brighter the future can only be for us all.

So, have you got a Queen of your Heart?

Are you looking for the ways to keep the sparkle in her eyes?

Contact:

www.K-ing-Of-Order.com

Email

Get-piece@K-ing-Of-Order.com

Tel: 07730006364

Facebook: Diamond K.ing

Clothing with a Conscience

3 of a kindIf most people are honest the words Unique, Quality and Fashion don’t necessarily sit well with the words Social Enterprise. If history is anything to go by then even when the prices have been sky high those people at the front line, those doing the labour rarely receive a just reward for their work. Furthermore, up and coming designers have been consistently undermined in their efforts to get a foot through the door.

However, a change is coming and over the past number of years there has been a growing movement of people; social enterprises that are determined to give quality clothing designers a space where they need it. The result has been a continued entering of new and even radical styles and, if you know where to look you can get your hands on a few quality pieces that few others will own.
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Ms Dennica Abdo is founder and creator of Fashion Meets Music (FMM); a Social Enterprise showcasing designers, artists and talent in the form of pop-up-shops, events and workshops. Established in 2013 after their events in LA meshing fashion shows, artist performances and vendors, Fashion Meets Music is on a mission to bridge the gap between the Indie and Mainstream worlds and provide opportunity for previously unrecognized talent. The FMM team seeks out extraordinarily talented fresh faces, creating a link to movers and shakers, decision makers and industry professionals. Its aim is to give upcoming designers and artists a place to be seen and heard, a platform to excel.

For many designers FMM is an essential crucial step on the retail ladder in a shop setting where they can test their brands to the public. gain exposure, have a chance to be involved in creative workshops, events, involvement in fashion shows and gain many images for their portfolio/social media platforms.

FMM Event“Our pop up shops have ranged from 10 days to 5 months and our designers are usually with us for the whole duration of the pop up.” Dennica explained “We have been really lucky here in terms of getting a decent length of lease property. Our goal is to find a permanent venue that will house numerous the emerging designers and also serve as an event space for performers, artists, talent and creative and business workshops…”

So what of the stock? Well the Camden Store boasts a strong line up of designer’s brands and from what I could see it was flying off the shelves but they include:

This Lil ole thing (Designer vintage wear, sales to charity)
The Faraway Tree (Reconstructed bags, denim, hessian and accessories)
CTAM (scarves)
ME Clothing (clothing, hats)
House of Loulee (Adult, childrens wear, African fusion)
UP CKLD (Recycled, upcycled)
Fashion Cosmetics (Beauty Products)
Don’t Touch My Locs (Printed Tees)
Ricalyce (Snapbacks, Beanies)
FaeFae (Printed wear, Beanies)
Nadia & Zehr (Clothing, Accessories)
Denim Recon (Our instore tailor, Denim wear)
Fly Girl (Printed wear)
Dirty Stag (Printed wear)
Modu Designs (Printed wear, snapbacks, beanies)
Jaime (art, sculptures)
Les 2 Coquettes (Printed wear)
Funk E Angels (Bags)
T & T (Jewellery)
Lola (Clothing and Jewellery)
Cherie Love Angel (Clothing)

Each sale not only creates profit for the designer it has diffused benefits by providing encouragement and builds drive to further create more items in this way FMM is as consumer driven as the fashion market it is a part of.

So what is the future for Fashion Meets Music Dennica? “Well…we plan on holding more events, running more pop ups and we are constantly on the look for new, unique talent and always looking for establishments that we can collaborate with. We are also currently on the lookout for permanent premises that can house retail, events and workshops. In the remit of Fashion and Music – what we do is very much needed.” No one can say that Dennica doesn’t say it how it is.
At the moment Fashion Meets Music is located at 69 Camden High Street – but you better get your groove on before they move on. Check them out too online:

www.fashionmeetsmusic.com
www.facebook.com/fashionmeetsmusicpopup
www.twitter.com/fmmpopup

Big Thanks to Active 8 Images (active8images.com) for the shots

Next week we are covering DTML – A fashion brand in the making.

Keep your Search Bar on Frost – it’s going to be hot.