Thinking of Japan

Of course we are all just glued to the television at every spare moment of our day, and Japan is I am sure in the forefront of everyone's mind, so in this blog post I won't be talking about Senzu jewelry or designs. I'd like to tell you about my visit to Japan and the impression of the people and country that it left on Brad and me. 

We have only been to Japan once, not counting the times we came just through Narita International Airport on transit.  We had the pleasure to visit Japan in the spring of 2005, during the time of the famed flowering of the Cherry trees. There were cherry trees everywhere, branches heavily loaded with pretty pink cherry blossoms. The Japanese people love taking pictures with the flowers, have a picnic below the flowered canopy and all in all it was a very jovial atmosphere. 

Via a semi-professional marathon-running friend I had been invited to run the Nagano Marathon as an invited athlete, which was an enormous honor, considering it was my very first marathon. Before we proceeded to Nagano, we had the chance to explore some of Tokyo, see the famed temples and in Kyoto the famed geisha areas, which were just gorgeous. Beautiful wooden structures, elegant ladies in traditional geisha attire and the whole artistic and graceful culture that went along with that. The Japanese temples were as historic oases in the midst of modern Tokyo, with the Zen gardens and uncluttered, calming grounds. 

The Japanese people we had the pleasure to meet were as diverse as you would find anywhere; hip, trendy and funky (especially in the cool Roppongi area), the all-work business people on their cellphones, elderly people playing games in the parks. Everyone treated each other with respect and consideration (something that even an earthquake and a tsunami does not shake, as the TV is showing us), and there was a genuine interest in getting to know you. We had a fun afternoon when I was asked to speak at an all-girls school, and rather than ask me about the upcoming marathon, the training or preparation, the girls were just like high school girls anywhere; they wanted to know about boys and life back home! 


Brad and I both came away from Japan with very pleasant memories, and with the intention to return to Japan for future visits to see more of this amazing country. 


So we join the rest of the world in praying and hoping for Japan's recovery and think of the Japanese people in this time of hardship. For links on how you can help, I recommend visiting the 'How you can help' page of CNN, for reputable aid agencies and other organizations. 
With warm thoughts,


Cristel
Your Senzu Style Insider.

Culturally Inspired, Fashionably Colorful

Wow, here we are in March already, and Spring is only 6 more weeks away! Time to lighten up the outfits along with the weather and channel a bit of Spring in your look too.  

The 2011 Naturals Collection was launched with the addition of 3 very unique necklaces, each inspired by different places and peoples of the multi-cultural, colorful and sensual continent of Africa. 

Madagascar Midnight was inspired by the innumerable stars that sparkle bright in a dark nightsky above the warmth of a wood fire, and those are the colours that come back in the necklace. It looks great on a solid-color outfit or simple dress, adding a touch of tropical and sensual élan with the depth and sparkle of the warm tones of the necklace. A true statement piece.  

The city of Zanzibar, in all its spice trade glory (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, pepper), quintessential lanterns, pearlescent sandy beaches and its beautiful people was the inspiration for the Zanzibar Spice Necklace. This necklace is so versatile, it looks great on a LBD for evening events or on any daytime outfit, ranging from jeans and white t-shirt to natural tones and everything solid-colored in between.  

Finally, African Dreams was inspired by a trip Brad and I did in the beginning of 2010, when we visited Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Namibia, and had the immense pleasure of meeting different tribal peoples in all these countries. Their colourful dress, jewelry, headdresses and the simplicity of the beaded jewelry is reflected in this Senzu homage to their beautiful sense of style. I personally love the fact that there are 4 different ways to wear this necklace, and they all create a different look, with just 1 necklace. The colors are bright and really pop, yet they complement one another. 


For those who’d like to see some pictures of our trip and the people we met there, please visit Brad’s photography site, www.bradmol.com. 


I find inspiration for jewelry designs all around me, in my everyday life in Asia, traveling around the region or on trips like the one to Africa last year, and from the colors, textures, shapes and the feelings those images impress upon me. Where do you get your creative inspiration?


Styling it up,


Cristel, your Senzu Style Insider. 

'It's Elemental, my dear Watson' -behind the scenes at Senzu's Elements Spring Collection

With Valentine’s Day come and gone, and New York Fashion Week in full swing, today’s blog post we are going to take you behind the scenes of how our 2011 Spring Elements Collection was designed. 

Overlooking Hong Kong Harbour

When we sat down to determine what the look for Spring 2011 was going to be, we knew we wanted to make sure that whatever the look, the jewelry had to be light and versatile. For our Elements line we really wanted to go back to the basics; using clean, natural lines, shapes that look great on any facial shape and body type and play with texture. 

For our Naturals Collection, 2011 would be the year of warm tones, inspired by Africa and tribal jewelry. More on this collection and the trip that inspired it in the next post!

When we went to Hong Kong in early Fall 2010, our goal was to work with out manufacturers to create these looks exclusively for Senzu, and the results are now online at Senzu.  

Rose Gold & Black Hematite
plated Senzu Jewelry. 

The 2011 Elements Collection has already become a great addition to the Senzu jewelry lines. The simplicity of the shapes, being mostly round and oval shapes, flatter all facial structures and soften those with more angular jawlines (like myself!). Hoops are the most popular type of earring for most women because it is so versatile and timeless, that we included a variety of sizes and twists on the hoop theme. 

The continuing theme throughout the Elements Collection though is the unique ‘scratched’ finish on each and every piece. This finish adds interest and depth to each jewel, and gives it almost a matte look. As always, we looked for a strong and allergy-safe base material (brass) and added luxury premium materials such as 925 sterling silver, rose gold and 18 karat gold plating, as well as rhodium and black hematite. This gives the Elements Collection a great variety of colours and looks, in necklaces, earrings, bracelets and bangles. 

I’ve been wearing the new Elements pieces a lot, and both in Canada and here in Thailand there has been a great response to the collection. Which brings me to the second bit of news: Senzu jewelry is now also available in Thailand through our sister company, Senzu (Thailand) Limited! Visit our senzustyle.com contact page for all the details. 

Tomorrow night Senzu will be participating in The Wine Ladies Dinner in Support of The Heart and Stroke Foundation. In this month of love and Valentine’s Day, it is a great opportunity to support this very important organisation. Enjoy a great wine-paired dinner at Cucci, swag bags with Senzu jewelry in it, and bid on the Inori© for Senzu Stainless Steel & Crystal jewelry set in the silent auction, all for this amazing cause. 

We hope to see you there! 

Cristel,

Your Senzu Style Insider

This is not a jewelry blog post

Rene Magritte - This is not a Pipe
and this is not a post about
jewelry, or is it? ;-)

“Many of life's failures come from people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." - Thomas Edison.

I thought it would be a nice change to talk about something other than Senzu jewellery for a change (though I am always happy to talk about that!). So I thought it would be more interesting to give you a bit of an insight as to why we started Senzu, and what challenges come with building your own business. 

Playful Metal Colours Necklace
& matching bracelets
SZFNL37

The quote this post started with was tweeted by Bear Grills, one of my favorite personalities on the Discovery Channel. I love his ‘can do’ attitude towards any situation he’s dropped into or that crosses his path. In one way, he is the ultimate boy scout; always prepared. On the other hand, he improvises when he does not have a particular tool to get him out of a pickle. When he can’t have elk steak in some tundra he’s stuck in, he opts for catching something or eating bugs. Ok, I would not go that far, but the underlying idea is flexibility and adaptation to your environment. It was also tweeted the same day by Anthony Robbins, the well-known self-improvement and inspirational speaker. The bottom line is, don’t give up too soon! If you truly believe in a project or concept, the business model and the strategy, then go do it! Nay-sayers be damned ;-)

Multi-Tone Metal Chain Necklace
SZFNL45

For me, I always wanted to get back into in the jewelry industry. Many years ago, when living overseas, for a while I worked with another jewelry company that used a proven, no-pressure networking sales method and I got a taste of it, and ever since then it was always in the back of my mind to return to that industry. 

If I had given up on this idea for a jewelry business concept over 15 years ago, Senzu would not exist today. Timing is everything, and the rest is enthusiasm and perseverance! 

So if you’ve ever had the idea to start your own business, work for yourself (no boss!) or work from home, then why not grab the bull by the horns and make 2011 your year? There are lots of options out there, a Senzu Stylist bring one of them. 

Next blog post I'll talk about the advantages and challenges of being your own boss as well as working from home. 

Until then, Style it Up and Happy Year of the Rabbit!

Cristel, your Senzu Style Insider. 

2011 Spring Spirit Collection launched

This blog post brings some great news: We have just launched our new line of Spring jewelry as part of our Senzu Spirit Collection!

SZFNL42:  http://bit.ly/goNvbl

When we developed this Spring range of jewelry, we put the emphasis on fun and lightness. Our aim was to create a line that is versatile yet elegant, so you can wear it with a suit or with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.  The jewelry will work great throughout the spring and into the summer, as weather warms up and clothing layers are shed. 

There are 11 new necklaces and 4 bracelets that all follow the Senzu mandate of good quality materials and a unique design that you'd only find at Senzu. Using aluminum and other light-weight metals and materials such as cotton, brass and glass, of course all lead-free, nickel-free and cadmium-free, the line is centered around the continuing trend of metallics and plays with textures, shapes and tones within the colour ranges. 

This year's Pantone colours, Silver Cloud as well as Russet and Silver Peony, are well represented in the collection, either on its own or in combination with gold and silver tones. As the quintessential neutral that consumers can rely on to coordinate with everything in their closet, Silver Cloud it is one of the most versatile colours in this year's range. 

SZFNL37: http://bit.ly/goSZc1

Senzu features it in the form of smokey, opaque glass beads that have been worked into both necklaces and bracelets. 

As Chrissy Lorenzo mentioned in her article on this year's Pantone chosen colours and their effect on mood: "Why does silver cloud seem to go with everything? This hue is multi-faceted and has many undertones. When paired with a deep purple, for example, blue-ish undertones in this color will come out for a seamless match. When paired with white, it will have a cooler, lighter look. For this reason, it's a great color to play off what's already existing in your wardrobe! Why you should wear it: gray-blue colors have a calming effect and inspire relaxation and creativity. A perfect color for a wall in your office, or a blazer for work. It will center you and leave you focused."

SZFNL38: http://bit.ly/ecfIbk

The warm chocolatey tones of Russet come back also in one of their wood and glass beaded necklaces. 

I've given you a sneak peek at some of the pieces in this blog, now go check all of them out on www.senzustyle.com! 

It is also posted it on Senzu's Facebook Page photo album, a great opportunity to 'like' our page and stay up to date on events, promos and special offers for our Facebook fans ;-) 

For daily updates and more 'insider' info, follow us on Twitter @senzustyle and @cristelmd. 

Styling it up!

Cristel, 

Your Senzu Style Insider. 

The LBD & other styles that never fade, literally!

Good morning everyone,

Having just come back from Shanghai on a Senzu sourcing trip, I was welcomed by some good news out of England this morning. It just goes to show you that true style never goes out of fashion and never fades away. Now we can actually say this and mean it literally, thanks to the scientists at the University of Leeds, who came up with a black dye for fabrics that does not fade in the wash. It was about time, right? ;-)

As was reported on also in The Toronto Star a few days ago, Partick McGowan and colleagues at the University of Leeds are proud of the dress because “black is the hardest colour and the most sought after. More than 50 per cent of clothing is black.” Glad to hear I am not alone in favouring this colour as a basic! It is flattering on most people, makes you look a bit more lithe and goes with nearly anything. Plus, the little black dress is one item that nearly all us ladies have at least one of, in our closets. 

Though I am not big on techie-speak, I thought it was worth quoting Mr. McGowan's process to create this little miracle (Nerd alert: science paragraph coming up!).  

The eco-friendlier process behind the dress and the dyes “turns a traditional problem in polymer chemistry on its head,” said McGowan. The process uses PLA or polylactic acid, a polyester derived from renewable sources. “It biodegrades, it is carbon-neutral, and it doesn’t rely on products from the petroleum industry,” he told The Star. 

“We’ve eradicated the wet-dyeing step and achieved a homogenous colouration.” Fabric dying traditionally uses oil-based material, lots of water, high temperatures, and creates considerable waste. Each type of textile needs to be dyed differently or takes the colour differently, even in the same garment. “The dye actually stays attached to the polymer. When you wash your PLA fibres, it doesn’t come out.”. 

Separate research is developing hair dye “without some of the chemicals perceived to be nasty. Organic is one of our goals.” concludes McGowan. Now would that be nice, to be able to colour your manes without all the horrible chemicals? 

When Sumitra and I started Senzu, we also wanted to ensure the colours and materials in our jewelry were long-lasting, which is why we love our Stainless Steel line. 

It is also a recyclable, very durable, non-staining, hypo-allergenic, and long-lasting material that will keep the same beautiful sheen, look and colour for a very long time with minimal care. 

Just like the non-fading LBD! 

Styling it up with a wink and Senzu jewelry of course,

Cristel, 

Your Senzu Style Insider.

PS: Don't forget to join our FB page too, for all the latest updates, and follow us on Twitter @senzustyle

Fashion Colour Report for Spring 2011

Good morning and I hope you've had a great start to the New Year!


This blog post is all about colours. What's hot, and what's not? We asked the experts!  This spring 2011, with the help of the colour 'authority', Pantone, the feature colour for all of 2011 has been named as Honeysuckle, however of course we are not monochromatic, monotone or one-size-fits-all people, and inspiration and colour-plays can be found everywhere around us. 

Citing exotic destinations like Africa, India, Peru and Turkey as inspiration for Spring 2011, designers worldwide continue to satisfy consumers’ need to escape everyday challenges and dreariness with intriguing color combinations that transport them to foreign lands and exotic cultures. 


“The colors that designers have chosen for the spring season present an interesting marriage of unexpected warm and cool tones,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “By cleverly combining complementary colors, those that are opposites on the color wheel, they have created a striking intensity to the palette. These unique color combinations make it possible for consumers to pair existing pieces in colors traditionally associated with fall, with new favorites to punch up springtime wardrobes.”


Senzu is also playing on the same contrasting, yet complimenting aspects of colours and textures this spring and summer. Without giving all our plans away, we will be introducing a range of 27 new earrings, necklaces and bracelet sets into our Elements Collection that will really pop. Watch our website, our @senzustyle tweets and this blog for updates when they will become available! 

Of course, our Senzu jewellery already represents a voyage around the world, with pieces this year from India, The Kingdom of Thailand, China and Malaysia. 


Silvers, yellow and pink gold tones, as well as the more muted black rhodium and charcoal grey hematite continue to be important base colours to bounce the brighter colours off. As the Pantone colour specialists put it in their 2011 Colour Report: "Another dependable background color, Silver Cloud, is the quintessential neutral that consumers can rely on to coordinate with everything in their closet." 


Which for Senzu means that we will shortly also be introducing, handmade by our jewellery artists in India, a great new line of fun jewellery for our Spirit Collection. That's all we'll say for now, you'll just have to follow us on twitter, our Facebook Page and of course the Senzu website for updates and to get it before everyone else! ;-)


Sumitra is off on a well-deserved vacation this week as she worked throughout the holidays, and I will be departing for Shanghai on a sourcing trip this Sunday, so the next blog will be from the great city of Shanghai! We've never been there before, so Brad and I are really looking forward to sharing our new experiences with you. 


2011 will truly be a year of hot Senzu jewellery, travel, global influences and intra-cultural experiences! Style it up with me! 


Cristel