Dana Lorenz American jewelry designer Country: USA

1. Dana Lorenz - American Jewelry Designer
2. Early Life and Influences
3. Education and Career
4. Achievements and Partnerships

Dana Lorenz - American Jewelry Designer

Dana Lorenz is an American jewelry designer known for her glamorous punk style. She has worked with brands such as 'Fenton' and 'Fallon', and has also created jewelry for the brand 'J.Crew'. Despite the belief that the punk trend with its dark colors and sharp spikes has passed, the growing interest in her work proves otherwise. The secret to her success lies in her ability to combine timeless classics with subcultures.

Early Life and Influences

Dana Lorenz was born in Park Ridge, Illinois, to Diana and James. Her father was a mechanical engineer. During her youth, Lorenz was heavily influenced by the time she spent at her uncle's house, Count Fenton, the head of the Chicago division of 'Condé Nast' magazine, and his glamorous wife, Helen 'Lal' Fenton. Lal constantly added luxurious items to her wardrobe from exclusive boutiques. Lorenz, being a child of the MTV generation, absorbed all the eccentricity that pop diva Madonna propagated in the 1980s, as well as the punk and rock influences of artists like Siouxsie Sioux in the 1970s.

Education and Career

Lorenz dropped out of school to live in Amsterdam and other European capitals. Upon returning, she obtained a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Iowa and studied at the School of the Art Institute. She then decided to try her hand in the fashion industry and was hired by companies such as 'Gucci' and 'Donna Karan'. At the beginning of her career, Lorenz created necklaces for herself and her friends. She skillfully combined pearl strands, played with Swarovski crystals, and incorporated brutal chains and spikes. Her work caught the attention of designer Alexandre Plokhov, who asked her to create a whole line of accessories for his menswear show in 2005. Individual jewelry pieces from the show caught the eye of buyers from the 'Barneys' department store chain, leading to an increase in demand for Lorenz's creations. Since then, her jewelry has adorned the necks of Hollywood stars and other celebrities.

Achievements and Partnerships

In 2008, Brazilian model Caroline Trentini wore organic earrings and a belt by Lorenz for a photo shoot that appeared in 'Vogue' magazine. Recently, the designer became a new partner of 'Samsung' and developed a collection of accessories for smartphones. Her edgy line was once again inspired by the punk style, featuring metallic spikes, inserts, and chains. Lorenz was named one of the "New Talents" by Italian 'Vogue' and her work has been celebrated at Milan Fashion Week. She was nominated for the Swarovski CFDA Award in the category of "Designer of the Year" in 2010.