Local Designer Series: Designer Merges Architecture and Accessories for a Cool Jewelry Line

Starting as a way to support herself during grad school, Beau Sinchai took her architecture background and created Koonyai Studio. Specializing in jewelry and sustainability, Beau is inspired by building materials including  metals and concrete. Her geometric, simplistic designs are the perfect addition to any outfit.

Photo Credit: Koonyai Studio

DGG: Tell me about yourself, Beau.

Beau: I was born in Thailand and grew up in Minneapolis, MN. I love food more than diamonds and I am super thankful for Detroit’s amazing food scene. 

DGG: Tell me about Koonyai Studio.

Beau: Koonyai means beloved grandmother in Thai. I grew up under the care of my grandmother and it is where I got my entrepreneurial spirit. Koonyai Studio started while I was studying at Cranbrook Academy of Art as a means for myself to turn my wild ideas into a career.

DGG: What lead you to beginning to work with jewelry?

Beau: It is actually accidental. During my years at Cranbrook, I had been exploring the idea of body architecture quite a bit. The topics of what it meant to be architectural, materials, and it’s social and cultural association came up a lot. Then, I started to merge architecture with body adornment and starting to make jewelry. 

Photo Credit: Koonyai Studio

DGG: What is your vision for the brand?

Beau: I hope that the brand will become a design house and do more design work under all the scopes from jewelry to buildings while making impact to the world, environmentally and socially. 

DGG: Where do you see your brand in 5 years?

Beau: This is what I have been super excited to talk about. I am working toward becoming a zero-waste business. Sustainability, social and environmental aspects have always been the top priority when I started Koonyai studio and I hope to be able to make positive impact to our community through design work and jewelry.

DGG: If you could have anyone in the world wear your jewelry, who would it be and why?

Beau: Michelle and Barack Obama. Michelle wearing my work would make me die happy. I would love to have POTUS wear my jewelry to shatter some stereotypes surrounding gender and jewelry.

DGG: Describe your style.

Beau: Minimalist and comfort, but my friends are calling it “art-mom” style.

Photo Credit: Koonyai Studio

DGG: What's the most meaningful piece of jewelry you own?

Beau: A battery-less watch that uses solar power. I purchased it with my first paycheck in high school. It was the first “big” purchase I ever made in life.

DGG: How do you take your coffee?

Beau: With a lot of sugar and cream. I mean I take a lot of sugar and cream with a drop of coffee. I love tea though!

DGG: Etsy or Bluefly?

Beau: Etsy

DGG: Cartier or Tiffany?

Beau: Neither. I love independent makers and imperfections from being handmade.

Photo Credit: Koonyai Studio

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Oh, Shop It: John Varvatos Opens Its First Midwest Retail Store

The John Varvatos press preview happened last night, and it was magical. Housed in the historic brownstone on Woodward Avenue, walking up to the store was like being transported to New York City. The building is beautiful and is owned and managed by Bedrock Real Estate Services; the storefront is minimalistic, yet it made a statement, and it complimented the rest of the brownstone perfectly. 

The store’s interior design takes inspirations from Varvatos’ store on the Bowery in NYC, which was formerly CBGBs, the seminal birthplace of the American punk movement, and it rocked. It’s 4,600 square feet on two levels and it offers a full product breadth of menswear including footwear, bags, belts, eyewear, limited edition watches and men’s fragrances.

“It’s with honor, passion, and pride that I open my newest store in my home town of Detroit,” said Varvatos. “This is a dream come true. Going back to my roots, where all my influences started, brings back so many great memories. I look forward to being a small part of building the future of this great city. Get on the Detroit train. It’s going to be a magical ride…”

The grand opening of the store is today, so head downtown, do a little shopping and stop by one of your favorite Detroit restaurants for a bite to eat. Pro tip: Whright & Company is just above John Varvatos, and the smells alone will lead you upstairs for good eats and a couple of cocktails.

Oh, Shop It: Seriously Fashionable Tech Accessories

 If you are a fashionista who enjoys accessorizing your smart phone, tablet and laptop, you’re in luck! Detroit’s own Anna Sui has created tech accessories exclusively sold at Best Buy in partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), which reflect the designer’s current collection.

“We continue to see the intersection of fashion and technology and have partnered with Best Buy to be at the forefront of this innovation,” said Steven Kolb, chief executive officer at the CFDA. “These partnerships have allowed our designers to enter the personal technology space and enabled them to launch their collections nationwide.”

Along with Anna Sui, Nanette Lepore and Isaac Mizrahi have created collections exclusively for Best Buy as well. Phone cases will be available for iPhone 5, 5s, 6 and 6plus, and Samsung Galaxy S5 and will run around $30. Tablet cases are available for the iPad Air and iPad Mini and will range from $35 to $40. Laptop cases are available for 13-inch devices for $40.

All cases are available now, so stop by your nearest Best Buy to style your tech accessories with flair.