Yesterday, in honor of the launch of the +Beryll and Mending Kids International fashion show and collaborative bracelet, press and bloggers visited the Santa Monica headquarters for a sneak peek of the bracelet, and the new +Beryll designs for FW 13/14. Guests also got a look at the pieces that were already runway-ready for this Saturday’s show!

Bloggers and journalists tweeted and instagram-ed their way around the showroom as Janelle, the +Beryll showroom manager gave them a lowdown of the latest designs.

Some standout pieces were the new cashmere asymmetric top with cutouts and matching gloves, as well as the Spring Cashmere scarf with leather tassels – guests couldn’t believe how soft and light the cashmere was, and of course were impressed with the quality and hand-craftedness of each piece. Bloggers took home their own +Beryll bracelet to style on their blogs for the contest.

Here’s a look at the day!

Lipstick Lace and Lattes and WTF Couture

The Gourmet Travelista

Amber's Notebook and Marlita on the Run try on Cashmere Scarves and Ponchos

Everything Hauler checking out some of her favorite +Beryll pieces

Janelle and Sarah - designer

We’ve got 3 words for you : Sexy. Studded. Suede.

The new +Beryll studded suede top is a piece that is sure to rock your wardrobe. With just the right mix of sophisticate and dare-devil, it’s a must have for any woman. A new sort of basic that can be worn to work, or to play, you can try the +Beryll studded suede top with skinny jeans or even a leather skirt as seen here!  Hand-studded in Los Angeles and designed by Sigmar Berg, the tops are limited edition, so be sure to stop by the +Beryll store in Santa Monica to get yours.

People relate to brands the same way we relate to one another – and love, desire and possession all play a role. The relationships between humans and brands has evolved from the days of trading with one another to a much larger scale where we are commonly first attracted to the brand from a visual standpoint – for example, a logo and the meaning associated with it.

Advocating for a brand also goes beyond quality and price, a brand earns the respect of its following through originality and honesty. +Beryll designer Sigmar Berg draw his original inspiration from his own background as an architect and employs elements from the city he lives in and loves, Los Angles. To Berg, it’s about being genuine, and crafting products that are true to the +Beryll legacy and that alone, so that when people associate with the +Beryll brand, they advocate for originality. Take a look at some shots of the latest +Beryll designs :

Kids could never grow up to be fashion designers if they’re not given a chance. Mending Kids International is an organization that gives chances to kids all over the world, and +Beryll designer Sigmar Berg has teamed up with the amazing organization to make some wonderful things happen in the lives of these children on a local level and beyond.

Mending Kids International provides life-changing surgical care to children from Russia to Mexico and everywhere in between. Over the years, thousands of children have received corrective, transformational surgeries that have given them a chance at longer, healthier and happier lives. Most of the surgeries performed are to correct congenital heart defects, orthopedic abnormalities, severe scoliosis, and significant cranial facial deformities.

On Saturday in Malibu, celebrities, patrons and other good people will gather to celebrate MKI with a special dinner and fashion show.  Guests are invited to join MKI in celebrating our first Hometown Mission in association with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and honoring humanitarian Dorothy Lucey and +Beryll will showcase new designs from Fall/Winter 2013 in addition to announcing the launch of the new +Beryll x MKI Bracelet.

Brooke Bohm Photography

Designer Sigmar Berg and his family have been long-time supporters and friends of MKI and the amazing things they do for the world, and have officially partnered with the organization to create a bracelet that is dedicated to saving the lives of these kids.  A strip of purple peeks through layers of fine black leather accompanied by the MKI butterfly charm and the signature +Beryll charm cast in sterling silver 925. Wearing the bracelet is a symbol for changing the lives of the world’s children.

Click here to find out more about Mending Kids and how to get your +Breyll bracelet to support the cause.

Have you ever watched the hands of an artist work? Regardless of the medium, artisan hands move skillfully and almost naturally across whatever they’re creating.

The crafts of +Beryll artisans begin to appear with the steady progression of movements of talented hands that have experienced years of training and practice. Dexterous and expressive, the hands of +Beryll artisans work passionately to create unique designs that can only be found in one place – California.

When you hold a piece by +Beryll in your own hands, it’s like holding an extension of the person who made it. Each piece starts with raw materials, whether it be leather, silk, organic cotton or sterling silver 925, an are diligently formed not just into a fashionable piece that can be worn and used for years to come, but into a work of art.

Handcrafted by good people, and worn by good people, +Beryll pieces can only be found in California.

Visit the +Beryll store in Santa Monica to catch a glimpse of the artists at work.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday – have you found the perfect present yet?

We’re sure your mom is cool, so why not give her something as elegant and timeless as she is?

The ultra light-weight +Beryll cashmere scarf is suitable for any style and any time of year. The soft, sheer design can be worn as a scarf or draped over the shoulders to achieve the look of a chic coverup for a night out.  Elegantly trimmed with trendy black leather tassels, it’s a great new spin on an old classic – which we’re sure mom will appreciate. Every mom deserves to feel like a long cool woman in a long cool scarf!

She was a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5’9″ beautiful ‘n’ tall
Just one look I was a bad mess
‘Cause that long cool woman had it all

I saw her heading to the table
Well, a tall walking big black cat
Charlie said, “I hope that you’re able, boy
‘Cause I’m telling you she knows where it’s at”

Wishing you and your family a Happy Mother’s Day!!

Find the +Beryll Cashmere x Leather Scarf and many more  Mother’s Day gift ideas at www.beryll.com/store

In honor of Mother’s Day this Sunday, we’ve been featuring mothers all week on the +Beryll blog. From “good mothers” to “sexy moms,”  every mother loves their children, but being a mom can be tiresome, stressful, anxious, and purely exhausting.  The key is balance. Finding beauty in every moment  is a mantra of the +Beryll brand and having a piece of nature that has been “crafted by good people,” is an ideal way to encapsulate yourself with positive energy.

+Beryll’s holistic, and healing, crystal necklaces feed good energy to every person, busy mothers included. +Beryll healing crystal necklaces are crafted from special stones found all over the world, and are worn on a sterling silver chain adorned with the signature +Beryll charm. Why not grant your mom some peace and serenity this Mother’s Day with the gift of a healing crystal?

Here are the meanings and uses for some of the crystals in the collection (according to Lightworkers.org)

AMBER is very soothing and calming to the nerves. It can uplift a negative disposition and encourage you to take life less seriously. Amber is known as the “Gentle Stone.”

AMETHYST purifies and transmutes negativity while providing protection and balance during transition periods. It reduces the feeling of being victimized, giving you a spiritual perspective on life’s circumstances. The lavender-pink colour amethyst relates to the Heart chakra, to open and lighten up a betrayed heart and to heal the sense of loss of life and innocence. Amethyst is also known as the “Master Healing Crystal.”

GARNET strengthens the life force and provides for the spontaneous availablity of energy when needed. This gemstone is especially good for the restoration of victimized and abused women, helping them reclaim lost power. It promotes regeneration of emotional energy and the acceptance of one’s thoughts and emotions. Garnet stabilizes energy devoted to accomplishing one’s purpose. It also empowers and strengthens the Root and Navel chakras. Garnet heightens sexuality (the physical aspects) and increases fertility, and is also known as the “Sex Stone.”

ROSE QUARTZ is a Master Healer and transmutes emotional negativity at all levels. It enhances meditation and healing by harmonizing and balancing energy fluctations. Rose Quartz embodies the expression “Love Conquers All”. It is excellent for calming the Heart and Solar Plexus chakras after situations involving emotional upheaval, chaos, trauma, or crisis. Rose Quartz allows love to come to the wearers who have trouble finding love within themselves to give to either themselves or to others. This is also a great friendship stone to give to someone you care for.

SMOKEY QUARTZ is the “Emotional Balancer Crystal”, and clears and transmutes negative emotions. This crystal is an excellent stabilizer for mood swings and grounds all kinds of negative energy. Excellent for PMS sufferers and other cranky persons. It is an excellent crystal to use in times of stress, and to rebuild emotional burnout by offering protection during the healing period. Smokey Quartz reduces the fear of failure, unblocks self-limitations, and lets you risk trying some new experiences.

FIND OUT MORE about +Beryll healing crystal necklaces by visiting the +Beryll store in Santa Monica.

A mom plays many rolls – caretaker, chauffeur, cook, cheerleader – and then there are moms who fulfill their careers and play the role of model, actress, dancer, designer, producer, philanthropist, or singer in addition to mother. Being all these things to many people doesn’t mean that a mom’s sexiness has to slip through the cracks.  Here are some of the world’s sexiest moms to prove it :

Angelina Jolie

Alessandra Ambrosio

Miranda Kerr

Heidi Klum

Brooke Burke

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Natalie Portman

Rebecca Romijn

Having babies and a busy schedule has by no means caused these moms to loose their edge. Taking care of your mind, body and soul as a mother is a great way to stay a few steps ahead and never let go of yourself. Spend time on you, and every once in a while to treat yourself  (or remind your husband to do it!) to something that will make you feel sexy and strong, whether it be a yoga class or a sexy new pair of shades.

+Beryll offers many pieces that add a little edge of sexiness to any mom’s look, yet still maintain that necessary level of sophistication. An exotic Kenya Necklace, some bold jewelry and a sexy T-shirt ought to do the trick!  Visit the +Beryll store online, or the headquarters in Santa Monica to browse the designs featured on the +Beryll model here – who also happens to be a sexy mom.

+Beryll T-Shirt, Kenya Necklace, Shades and Jewelry.

Besides being mothers, women are wives, daughters and friends, and being “good” translates across all aspects of a woman’s life.  Childbearing may or may not be a patriotic duty in this day and age, but there are inherent skills a mother must possess in order to raise strong, intelligent sons and daughters. Being a mother is the most wonderful, demanding, fulfilling, heart wrenching, job in the world. Some women are mothers to only their own children, while other women embrace the world’s children, like Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa, the saintly Catholic nun of Calcutta, founded a “good doing” religious congregation that in 2012 consisted of over 4,500 sisters and is active in 133 countries. The mission of the sisters was to run hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis. They also maintained soup kitchens, children’s and family counseling programs, orphanages, and schools. Members of the congregation must adhere to the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, and the fourth vow, to give “Wholehearted and Free service to the poorest of the poor”.   Mother Teresa was the recipient of numerous honors including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

The +Beryll slogan, “handcrafted by good people. worn by good people.” comes from a pure place, expressed by designs that are not necessarily for the “Mother Theresa good” , but all the “good people” like artist, actors, musicians, athletes and specially local heroes that day-in/day-out do good right at home, like being a good mother or father. It’s not required of a person to run off to Africa or Bangladesh to make a difference, one can do good right in their own back yard. Buying local, taking care of the planet, and taking care of each other are values easily taught and enacted, as is living your day to day life with love.

The art of crafting silver has been practiced since the days of ancient Egypt, when, according to The Silver Institute, The mining of silver began some 5000 years ago.  Silver was first mined in about 3000 B.C. in Anatolia (modern day Turkey), from which its popularity spread to Greece, Spain and the rest of Europe respectively.

It was with the discovery of America by Columbus and his crew in 1492, that the mining of silver began to spread to the rest of the world. The rush for silver and gold in the United States was soon followed by discoveries in Canada, Africa, Mexico, Chile, Japan, and other countries.

Calaope Silver Mine - 19th Century

Today it has now been more than 5000 years since ancient cultures first began to mine this precious metal, and the art of silversmithing is valued for its historic craftsmanship.

Horn Silver Mine

Silversmiths saw, or cut, specific shapes from silver sheet metal and bar stock. The silver can be sterling or fine silver, and after its cut hammers are used to form the metal over anvils and stakes. Silver is hammered “cold” (at room temperature), and as the metal is hammered, bent, and worked, it ‘work-hardens’. Sterling silver is recommended for crafts over fine silver, as it’s stronger while fine silver is better used for finishing.

The skill of silver smiting is one of the many disciplines used by +Beryll’s team of local artisans to craft the collection of +Beryll jewelry. Each piece is shaped in sterling silver 925, the strongest  and longest lasting form of alloyed silver. Bronze is an added metal that is used in some +Beryll designs and plays elegantly off of the silver.

The skilled hands of practiced artisans cut and form the metals into rings, bracelets and charms that are used for not only jewelry, but also to adorn cashmeres and other designs with the +Beryll signature charm. Hand-crafted in California, you can shop the +Beryll hand-crafted jewelry by clicking here.  Also keep in mind that exclusive designs are available in-store only, so be sure to stop by the Santa Monica location for one-of-a-kind and hard-to-find pieces.

+Beryll Sterling Silver 925 and Bronze Rings