YoungArts x Swarovski Capsule Collection Debuts at Ron Robinson on Melrose

Today models, actors, and designers gathered at the Fred Segal Café on Melrose Avenue for the launch of the YoungArtsxSwarovski capsule collection at Ron Robinson. The collection is going to be available in international locations and is scheduled to go to international fashion hot spots such as Paris and Milan but has made its debut right here in Los Angeles. The collection will benefit the YoungArts foundation which is a charity organization that provides mentorship and scholarships to the top talent 18 and under in artistic fields such as architecture and music.

Dee Dee Sides the Sr. Development Director for YoungArts also attended the event and I spoke to her about the program. She told me that the Swarovski Atelier collection is sponsored by Swarovski a Young Arts partner and designed by Khirma New York. The collection celebrates the launch of YoungArts fashion platform which will be geared towards mentoring young designers and providing them with exposure to the industry through the organizations partners. The collection fits well with the YoungArts initiative according to DeeDee because it is designed by a young up and coming designer herself and is very artsy to represent the program’s focus on creative industries.

Young Arts is one of the many programs trying to fill the need for mentorship and exposure for youth interested working in creative industries. For many young people in the US, access to technical training or information about careers in artistic fields isn’t part of their education, as there has been a big push for STEM initiatives and college prep programs in the high schools while the arts have been left with little funding. The YoungArts program often find the talent they support through contests where kids can enter their work for a chance to win one of the scholarships and mentoring programs since they are focused on providing resources to the top 1% of talent in the US.

I also interviewed the young designer of the capsule collection which included all types of handbags encrusted with Swarovski crystals in different ways. According to Khirma, the young New York based handbag designer, she was excited to be a part of tshis collection. She relates to the YoungArts initiative because after finishing her undergraduate degree she was on her way to law school when she realized she wanted to be a designer and she believes that ages 15-18 are often some of the most critical years for figuring out what you want to do. She enjoyed working with the Swarovski crystals as a medium because the Swarovski brand is all about texture and that is something her own handbag line also embraces. She said, “the designs are all named after women I have met who inspired me because when you think about what makes a person beautiful it’s all the different textures and layers coming together.” She wanted to represent that in her designs as well and played with different ways to incorporate the crystals such as embroidery and crystal encrusted clasps. The Khirma line is all about being fearless and feminine and making it all happen inspired by Khirma’s own experiences.

The collection was definitely dazzling and the bags could be seen sparkling from across the store drawing interest from customers.

It was great to see so many people coming out to enjoy lunch on the café patio on the sunny Los Angeles day in support of young people and creative industry.