Dao Fournier
By Kimberly Gibson and Lucy Price
You know that pivotal moment where everything you have ever worked for, everything you have ever dreamt of, everything you have ever strived for finally comes together? I can say that day happened for us when we walked into Javits Convention Center on July 28th, 2013. The event: one of the largest jewelry trade show events, JA New York, and we were debuting our collection: Dao Fournier. An education in gemology, courses in jewelry design, hundreds of hours in sketching and painting, frequent trips to Thailand to oversee production of our pieces were all coming together in that moment.
Our appreciation for rare gemstones, coupled with a love for artistic flare and beautiful designs, are the strongest influences and the foundation upon which Dao Fournier is built. Each piece has our signature trademark of two diamonds to signify our twin bond with one another. Our collection name is a portmanteau of our middle names and pays homage to our lineage. Finally, in 2012 we put our designs in the hands of skilled artisans and launched Dao Fournier.
We grew up attending these trade events; often accompanying our parents, the owners of Redfern Jewelers. But, this time was different. We were no longer Attendees. We were Exhibitors- showing the world our collection.
And what an event it was! We debuted in the New Designer Gallery; showcasing with the finest new talent and designers in the industry. Unbeknownst to many, 30 years ago, this is where famed designer David Yurman first showcased his collection. It was pretty amazing to believe that this is where our beginning would start as well. What an honor it was to be in the company of all these other emerging artists. We were surrounded by energy, moved with excitement, squirming with anticipation of what was to come.
The event took place over the course of 3 days. We met so many buyers and spoke with so many staff writers and editors of the biggest, most well-known trade publications. The accounts we gained, and the connections we made far surpassed anything we ever imagined. We call our business our baby, and it truly is. Everything we do, we do for our business. We treasure and cherish each and every moment, and in that weekend, we made our first big step forward.
You can learn more about Dao Fournier at daofournier.com and purchase pieces from the collection at Redfern Jewelers in Redfern Village.
