Kari Caden

On this week's episode of Handbag Designer 101 Podcast, we meet Rafael de la Vega, who used a single on-field embarrassment to become the spark for Salt Athletic. Rafael de la Vega’s patented cleat bag is designed for the athlete who uses it and the parent who buys it. In this episode, Rafael shares how early missteps with PR, broad targeting, and hype burned cash, and how a hard pivot—economics first, accelerator support, and factory access in Mexico and India—turned the company around. A near-dead runway led to a bold performance-ad strategy that paid for itself, and a key insight reshaped everything: the user is the player, but the buyer is the parent. See the link below to listen: https://lnkd.in/eBiuPkje

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🌟 First Time at JCK Las Vegas – A Legacy in the Making 🌟 Just wrapped my first-ever JCK show in Las Vegas representing Solomon Brothers Jewelers with Jaron Solomon and Michael De Leo, and wow — what an unforgettable experience. As someone new to the jewelry industry, this was nothing short of a crash course in luxury, innovation, and community. 🎙️ We captured it all on the latest episode of Legacy of Luxury — from the dazzling showcases at Couture and Luxury to the vibrant energy of the JCK floor. I got to meet legends of the industry, explore cutting-edge designs, and witness firsthand how tradition and tech are shaping the future of fine jewelry. 💎 Highlights? Too many to count, but here are a few: 🌈 A whirlwind of color, culture, and million-dollar diamonds (See attached clip!) 💍 Seeing how brands like TACORI, A.JAFFE, SYLIVE, Shy Creation Fine Jewelry and Noam Carver are pushing design boundaries while staying true to craftsmanship. 📖 Learning how curated storytelling and innovation are key to connecting with today’s consumers. 🤗 And most of all, feeling welcomed into a tight-knit, passionate industry that truly feels like family (Most hugs I have gotten in years!) This trip wasn’t just about jewelry — it was about legacy, learning, and laying the foundation for what’s next. Huge thanks to everyone who shared their time, stories, and sparkle with me. ✨ If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like behind the scenes of the world’s biggest jewelry show, check out the episode. We kept it real, raw, and right on time. #JCK2025 #LegacyOfLuxury #FirstTimeInVegas #JewelryIndustry #LuxuryRetail #SalomonBrothers #DesignInnovation #CurationMatters #GratefulAndInspired

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L.A. Rag Maker Perspective What Makes the Los Angeles Garment Industry Unique One of the things that historically made the Los Angeles apparel industry unique was the way it developed as a tightly connected ecosystem. Designers, pattern makers, cutting rooms, sewing contractors, dye houses, fabric suppliers, and showrooms operated within the same geographic area in downtown Los Angeles. That proximity allowed brands to move from concept to sample to production much faster than in many other regions. At its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Los Angeles garment district was one of the most concentrated apparel production ecosystems in the world. Thousands of manufacturers, contractors, suppliers, and showrooms operated within just a few blocks of one another. Because the system was so interconnected, designers could collaborate directly with the people responsible for developing and producing garments. While the industry has evolved since then, much of the knowledge, craftsmanship, and infrastructure that made that ecosystem work still exists today. Understanding how that system developed helps explain why Los Angeles remains an important center for fashion design, development, and garment production. — I’d be interested in hearing how others in the industry see this evolving. George “L.A. Rag Maker” Arrington — decades inside the Los Angeles apparel manufacturing ecosystem, sharing perspective from the factory floor to the marketplace. California Apparel News LA Fashion District California Fashion Association is now Ilse Metchek, dba Apparel Industry Analyst remake.world #LARagMaker #GarmentIndustry #ApparelManufacturing #MadeInLA #FashionBusiness

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Fashion success isn’t just about product. It’s about knowing your numbers. This Tuesday, July 22 at 10AM PDT, Fashion Index goes live with AIMS360 founder Shahrooz Kohan to unpack the systems and strategies driving real growth in today’s fashion economy. We’ll cover: — What true costing actually looks like — How supply chain shifts and tariffs impact your margins — The tools smart brands use to scale from startup to multimillion-dollar operations If you're building a fashion business, this is the conversation you can’t afford to miss. #AIMS360 #FashionIndex #FashionCosting #ERPSoftware #FashionBusinessTools #FashionManufacturing

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He inspired the DDX San Diego audience, and now he’s coming back to take the Tokyo stage. 🔥 He’s designed for the world’s giants, and redefined what digital beauty means. Meet Gleb K., Founder & CEO of Milkinside. With over 25 years of experience, Gleb has shaped the design language of Google, Apple, Mercedes-Benz, Spotify, Mitsubishi, Amazon, Airbus, and Honda, turning complex technology into immersive, human experiences. 🌍 His work, known for its signature blend of emotion, motion, and precision, has earned global recognition, including five consecutive CES Innovation Awards, four Red Dot Awards, and a Webby for Best Product Design. 🚀 At DDX Tokyo, Gleb will take the stage with “Moving Giants: Driving Innovation at Scale in the Age of AI.” He’ll explore what it takes to lead design at scale, blending creativity, systems, and AI to build products that move industries and hearts. 🙌 Supported by our partner: Growth xPartners 🇯🇵 💬 Join us to learn how the world’s top brands innovate, and how design can make the future feel beautifully human. 🎟️Link in comments. #DDX #DDXTokyo #ProductDesign #UXDesign #InnovationLeadership

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Planet Hollywood International tapped Surge Brands Inc. to build out a new licensing program. Get the details 👉 https://lnkd.in/gY8f5rCc #Toys #ToyIndustry #ToyNews #ToyCommunity #Licensing #Entertainment #Retail #IdeasToIcons

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Jamie Haller and her line of shoes and ready-to-wear recently added handbag and jewelry categories. The brand is already doing $10-$20 million annually with 65% of the business DTC. What comes next? Can the California based brand expand and scale to $100 million? The shoes are incredibly comfortable but how do the price points stay in the mid-range with rising tariffs and material costs increases? Get to know more about the brand in my latest story for Puck in Line Sheet. Link to read in the comments below.

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More shoppers are asking about hallmarks and for good reason. As counterfeit concerns grow, people want proof their jewelry is real. That little stamp? It’s becoming a big deal. Hallmarks help verify metal type, purity, and sometimes even origin. They’re not just technical they’re trust signals. And in an era where fakes are getting harder to spot, buyers are learning to look for them before they click “buy.” For brands, this is a simple but powerful shift. Whether it’s on your product pages, packaging, or store signage, showing and explaining hallmarks clearly can reduce hesitation and build confidence. No fluff, no mystery just facts. If your jewelry is hallmarked, say so up front today’s buyers are already looking for it.

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Armor Aura Asset. Dua Lipa’s 2024 Grammys moment in courrèges and Tiffany & Co. shows how one orchestrated look becomes a high yield brand asset. The Courrèges gown authored the brief a silver, chain mail column with hip baring cutouts and fringe that fused 1970s futurism with contemporary body confidence, making each step a micro campaign in rock and roll glamour. I was fascinated by Tiffany & Co. Haute Joaillerie supplied narrative climax. The Pisces necklace from the 2023 Blue Book extended aquatic mythology with an unenhanced 23 plus carat orange sapphire, padparadscha and Umba sapphires, rubellites and diamonds; High Jewellery here becomes canonical storytelling rather than product placement and amplified Dua Lipa’s Mermaid Barbie era while creating boutique demand. It was worth noted that legendary. Stylist Lorenzo Posocco’s restraint sealed the commercial logic: red hair, minimal makeup and a single suite of hero Tiffany & Co. pieces ensured editorial clarity and algorithmic recall. In feed economies a unified focal point converts impressions into sustained retail interest and valuation chatter crossing eight figures. I cited 2 academic scholars to support my case study analysis. Professor David Aaker explains that distinctive brand assets convert visibility into durable equity by anchoring memory in consistent symbols.¹ Jean-Noël Kapferer argues that luxury brands grow by conserving rarity through narrative control, making cultural signals convertible into pricing power.² New York & Co 1888 Paris operationalises these lessons into 7 figure outcomes with bespoke brand ambassador red carpet visibility placement. Conclusion one well staged look becomes a convertible asset. Steward it with strategy; monetise it with precision. Credits Tiffany & Co. courrèges Dua Lipa Lorenzo Posocco Grammy Awards Videos Reels are credited to their respective owners. #GrammyAsset #RedCarpetROI #TiffanyandCo #NewYorkCo1888Paris Which archival motif would you deploy next? References 1 David A. Aaker, Building Strong Brands (Free Press, 1996) 45. 2 Jean-Noël Kapferer, Kapferer on Luxury: How Luxury Brands Can Grow Yet Remain Rare (Kogan Page, 2015) 83. Dua Lipa glides the Grammys 2024 red carpet in courrèges and Tiffany & Co. High Jewellery; closeups reveal chain mail shimmer, orange sapphire brilliance, poised movement and cinematic, unforgettable glamour, timeless moment.

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Most jewelry buyers make these 5 mistakes. Here’s how to avoid them. After helping collectors, first-time buyers, passionate enthusiasts, and people looking for the perfect gift… I’ve noticed the same 5 mistakes appear again and again. And they can cost you money, regrets, or both. 1. Chasing carats over character Believing “bigger” means “better.” Focus on cut, clarity, color, and rarity. These determine a stone’s beauty and value long after size stops impressing. 2. Ignoring provenance and certificates Thinking all stones of the same type are equal. Always ask about origin and demand proper certification. A Kashmir sapphire or a Burmese ruby carries unmatched prestige and value. 3. Overlooking craftsmanship Assuming the stone is the whole story. Look closely at design, finishing, and mirror polishing. A poorly executed setting can ruin even the finest gem. 4. Overestimating wearability Buying a stunning piece that stays in the safe. Consider comfort and versatility. True enjoyment comes from jewelry you can actually wear often. 5. Buying a piece instead of building a collection Treating jewelry as one-off purchases. Think long term. Choose pieces that complement each other, so your collection grows into something you can enjoy in many ways. High jewelry isn’t about cutting corners or chasing investment value. It’s about making educated, timeless choices. A piece chosen well today becomes part of your family’s story tomorrow. I’ll be sharing daily insights to help you navigate the world of high jewelry with confidence.

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