Hot Rocks

Kim (left) and Linda Renk, sisters and designers of six-year-old fashion jewelry line Sequin, have something more than just their brilliant baubles making their eyes sparkle. In February, their first jewelry collaboration for Badgley Mischka hit the runways in New York City’s Bryant Park. The costume jewelry, which ranged from rock crystal chokers to an architectural necklace with large-scale stones, was anointed by Women’s Wear Daily as “spectacular.” Now the sisters will be featured in Vogue and Elle, and their jewelry is on the “must have” lists of department store buyers.

Born and raised in Winona, the Renk sisters worked for more than a decade at their respective fashion industry jobs—Linda as a women’s ready-to-wear buyer for Target and Kim as a vice president of product design for Swank, a costume jewelry company in New York. After noticing a void in the market for well-designed costume jewelry within a reasonable price range, the sisters decided to start their own line. The Renks ventured to NYC in search of a studio with only their ideas, Midwestern sensibilities, and fashion sense in tow. Proving their business and style savvy quickly, the sisters expanded from a tiny one-desk studio to a more than 10,000-square-foot show room in Midtown.

In addition to their new Badgley Mischka collaboration and their Sequin line (which retails at Nordstrom and Henri Bendel and ranges in price from $38 to $275), the Renks have also created private-label jewelry for Macy’s, Arden B., Express, Bebe, Cache, Target, and Candies for Kohl’s. In order to keep up on trends and gain inspiration for the various lines, the pair scouts antique markets, travels to Europe, and pays close attention to trends in fashion, movies, and music. And while trends often do trickle down from couture to ready-to-wear to mass retailers, the jewelry designs for the different lines aren’t often the same. “Nordstrom may be more interested in a trend like dark romance, but that may be too somber for the Kohl’s customer,” says Linda. “We have to put ourselves inside each customer’s head.”

From the timeless, vintage-inspired jewels for Badgley Mischka to the more of-the-moment layers of iridescent bangles and candy-colored rings for Target, the Renks make sure to give all the retailers product that is unique.

Inspiration for the Badgley Mischka jewelry line came from vintage jewelry, an influence also seen in the intricate and beautifully detailed gowns designed by Mark Badgley and James Mischka. The Renks’ three collections—day, evening, and bridal—all match the sense of glamour expected from this fashion house. The look for day is clear and futuristic—plenty of rock crystal, unusual combinations of turquoise and wood, and a collection that incorporates freshwater pearls with handmade bullion beads from India. The Renks’ evening collection is inspired by circa 1940s vintage Italian jewelry, incorporating big gems, large glass stones, and combinations of hematite and gold—a look that seamlessly combines vintage and futuristic. Photos by Michael Hendrickson