| Accessories & Design: Canadian
Ice
Neve Campbell, Lindsay
Lohan,Tori
Spelling, Nicole Richie
and Tia Carrere are among the many
celebrities warming up to the jewelry designs dreamed up by Montréal-based
Anzie and daughter
Jaclyn Stein for their multi-faceted ANZIE
collection. Their clean-lined pieces are fashioned in casual
sterling silver and dressier gold and jazzed up with unusual combinations
of precious and semi-precious stones. As cool as these contemporary-but-classically
turned jewels look with everything from jeans to red carpet looks,
the story behind Anzie’s collection will warm the heart of
even the most jaded fashionista.
Anzie Stein, a graduate of The Fine Arts Program at Montreal’s
Concordia University, enjoyed an idyllic life teaching art for many
years and creating a body of work (lithographs and etchings) that
was very much in demand by art dealers and collectors throughout
Canada. However, her current career sprung to life five years ago
under the most unlikely circumstances. When husband Barry was diagnosed
with colon cancer, she turned to jewelry making as an emotional
outlet. Later on, she and Barry realized she could expand upon the
healing powers of jewelry making and turn the product into a vehicle
that could raise money and awareness. This inspiration ultimately
led to several sub collections, including the Lifesaver
Bracelet (LSB), the Lifesaver Necklace
(LSN), and the Lifesaver Anklet
(LSA), all sold to raise funds for Colon Cancer patient support,
advocacy and research. Her base of operations eventually expanded
to include charities raising money for breast cancer, ovarian cancer
and AIDS.
In the beginning, Barry’s treatment visits to New York and
Los Angeles evolved into “buying and healing” trips,
rich in opportunities for the couple to gain some inspiration and
learn more about the jewelry design business. Anzie and Barry spent
much of their leisure time browsing through high-end “destination”
jewelry stores, taking note of what the hottest trends were and
how they were being marketed. The dazzling array of semi-precious
stones in creative settings not only inspired them to seek out suppliers
of quality raw materials to produce their own collection, but also
provided greater motivation for Barry to beat the illness and build
a future for themselves and others. Soon Jaclyn, a McGill business
graduate, joined the venture where her creativity ensured the artistic
growth of the company. Anzie Accessories & Design Inc. is now
a family enterprise where each member has taken an active role in
designing, marketing and selling the jewelry.
Thanks to style-setting locals in Canada and exposure in the Canadian
media (Clin D’Oeil, The
Globe and Mail, Chatelaine),
the Steins forged a modern design philosophy that is as beautiful
on the inside as it is on the surface. Today, the ANZIE collection
encompasses hundreds of styles of necklaces, earrings and bracelets,
which can be seen in its full glory at www.anzie.com
or by contacting 1-866-486-2604 for a free catalogue.
This week, 3 lucky winners will win
a beautiful blue topaz and cultured pearl silver bracelet (as seen
above, on the left).
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