NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Feb 18, 2015) - Lucite International, owner of the LuciteLux® acrylic brand, today announced it is proud to celebrate award-winning jewelry designer Alexis Bittar's 25th anniversary of working with LuciteLux®. Bittar, famous for incorporating LuciteLux® into his designs, will present his collection for the first time during a New York Fashion Week event tonight.
Continuously inspired by, and a fervent supporter of the arts, Bittar also commissioned original artwork using sheets of LuciteLux® cast acrylic donated by Lucite International. Artspace will auction the work by four prominent contemporary artists -- Natasha Law, Juliette Losq, Cordy Ryman and Mickalene Thomas -- at the event. All proceeds from the sales will benefit the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in NYC, where Bittar is a board member.
"I enjoy creating pieces that come to life through the use of Lucite®," said Bittar, who famously began his extraordinary journey with Lucite® in 1990 by inventing a groundbreaking method of sculpting and manipulating the classic acrylic into collectible, wearable art. "My love affair with the material is no secret and I am excited these incredible artists agreed to help me show the endless artistic possibilities of Lucite®."
Bittar's work, which fused the ideology of Bakelite jewelry with the applications of Lalique glass, was unheard of and quite rare in the era of 90s minimalism. His distinctive, sculptural pieces have become instantly recognizable ever since he began selling his jewelry on NYC's Prince Street. His jewelry, worn by the likes of high-profile women including Michelle Obama and Lady Gaga, are created using a labor-intensive, seven-part process that involves hand-carving, hand-painting and hand-polishing clear and frosted LuciteLux®.
"Alexis understood the potential of our material at the earliest stages of his business and never wavered in his commitment to innovative design and exceptional craftsmanship," said Chris Robinson, business manager for Lucite International. "Witnessing how he continues to be uniquely provocative through LuciteLux® inspires us all to push the limits of what we believe is possible. We can't wait to see what Alexis dreams up over the next 25 years."
Alexis Bittar will display select pieces from the auction at his boutiques across the country following the event.
About LuciteLux®
Manufactured by Lucite International, LuciteLux® continuous and cell cast acrylic is as tough as it is beautiful. It resists scratching and has built-in UV protection, which keeps colors true over time. The material is easy to cut, join, form and fabricate and is available in an array of colors, textures and thicknesses. These features, coupled with excellent optical clarity and light transmission qualities, make LuciteLux® ideal for use in point-of-sale, display, signage, furnishings, fashion accessories, architecture, interior design and more. For more information, visit http://www.lucitelux.com, http://www.facebook.com/lucitelux or http://www.pinterest.com/lucite.
About Alexis Bittar
Alexis Bittar is a Brooklyn-based jewelry designer, who grew his business from the streets of New York City to a global company with over 400 employees, a dozen stores and a devoted cult following around its edgy and provocative designs that have earned him almost every award the fashion industry can bestow upon an accessories designer. Apart from creating one-of-a-kind pieces for Michelle Obama, Beyonce and Madonna, Alexis has collaborated with Nicola Formichetti for Mugler, Philip Lim, Jeremy Scott, Michael Kors, Jason Wu and, most recently, London's Mother of Pearl. His numerous awards include CFDA Accessory Designer of the Year (2010), and the Accessories Council of Excellence (ACE) Award for Brand of the year (2014). In 2012, Alexis embarked on a partnership with TSG Consumer Partners, a San Francisco-based private equity firm. Together they aim to expand the brand's retail presence, with plans to open boutiques in Washington, DC and Las Vegas in 2015.
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