Daily Front Row

2009 February 4

Partners in Chic, Part 2

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(NEW YORK) Fashion Week is rapidly approaching, and even the best of the best can't go it alone. Designer/jewelry collaborations keep rolling in, and the conjoined talent is formidable. It's a 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund reunion for Irene Neuwirth and Richard Chai, who are working together on jewelry for Chai's Fall 2009 collection, debuting February 18. “I am a big fan of Irene’s," said Chai. "There is a purity in her work and a respect for shape and form that appeals to me. When developing my collection this season, I loved the idea of having her bold-colored jewelry to accent my vibrant color palette. It’s really nice to be able to collaborate and work intimately with another designer in a more specific way.”  Neuwirth seems just as enamored with her collaborator: "I’m so excited to be working with Richard on this collaboration," she said. "We met last summer when we were both CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists; we immediately started talking about how we can work together. We have a very similar approach to design--we both love color and bold shapes. We went back and forth between L.A. and New York with sketches, swatches and stone samples until we were able to create something we are both really happy with."

Team Chai/Neuwirth isn't the only design duo bringing something new to the table this season. Philip Crangi is collaborating with Jason Wu for his February 13 show, DANNIJO will be creating the baubles for the Trovata show on February 17, and Roxanne Assouline (designer of Roxanne Assouline for Lee Angel) is collaborating with Brian Reyes to introduce “Roxanne Assouline for Brian Reyes” at his show on February 19.