ABOUT NABI

Banghan Nabi Kim studied fine arts in The Cooper Union School of Art, focusing on oil painting and printmaking, and studied jewelry design abroad at The Nova Scotia College of Art & Design. Nabi entered the textile design and color field, working for Jack Larsen and Westpoint Stevens and then web design, working for Bluefly.com. Dissatisfied with the computer design field and overwhelmed with the desire to continue creating beautiful objects with her hands, Nabi decided to find a medium that would coalesce her fine arts background and beautiful, wearable products. Nabi Design jewelry was born in the summer of 2001.

In the early part of 2004, artist and friend, Carmina “Minette” Leabres designed more “petite”, delicately lovely pieces for Nabi Design that echo the existing collection. Carmina graduated from Alfred University for ceramics in 2003 and continues to create her beautiful ceramics and installation work while designing and creating the “Minette” collection for Nabi Design. Carmina specializes in animal motifs (due to her love of cuddly creatures) and lovingly incorporates them into her jewelry work. Carmina lives and works between New York City and Philadelphia.

Nabi Design jewelry fuses innumerable influences taken from the world of fine arts, traditional crafts, and cutting edge fashion. The love of colors, shapes, balance, the nature of the materials, and the mixing of them all makes Nabi’s jewelry special and wonderful for the wearer. The affordable price point makes the adventurously bold yet delicate jewelry accessible for the price-conscious consumer who can’t find high-end style that’s not going to bust her wallet.

Nabi Design’s jewelry has been worn and seen on Jessica Alba, Jessica Simpson, Beyonce on MTV’s TRL, Suchin Pak of MTV and Rachel Perry of VH-1, Debbie Harry of Blondie, and Gloria Reubens and Maria Bello are fans who own several pieces and have worn them on television and in publications. Nabi Design’s pieces are included in goody bags for MTV’s Style Villa for its VMA awards. Nabi and her jewelry were recently featured in the April 2004 issue of LUCKY magazine as “One To Watch,” and in these publications: Marie Claire, Instyle, YM, Italian, Elle, Harpers & Queen, Real Simple, NY Daily News, TimeOut, Nylon, Star, and In Touch.

JEWELRY STYLE AND MATERIALS

Nabi Design’s style philosophy points to one word: mix; the unexpected combinations of materials, or simply a design that results in something that is both funky and elegant. Their designs incorporate the use of metals such as sterling silver, gold-filled and goldplated pieces, amazing vintage pieces, and also fabrics, such as Tibetan silk, fabric, and leather. They also mix in semi-precious stones and precious materials, and other unusual pieces. Each and every piece is handcrafted in their Brooklyn, NY & Philadelphia, PA studios. What hopefully results from their “playing” are unique, exciting, and very wearable pieces that make the wearer feel amazingly stylish, elegant, beautiful, unique, and true to herself.

CREDITS:

www.josevillegasdesign.com
photo credits: Xenia F. Diente, Yolim Khoo, The Woodside House, Irwin @ Calumet on 19th & 5th
models: Helen Ghebre, Leah Abraha, Asmeret Berhe, Saadia Shina, Geraldine Sarmiento, Selina, Millie Kim
*also thanks to Carmina Leabres, mama & papa Kim, and all special friends!*