She wants to bring it all home.
A Bay Ridge jewelry designer is a finalist in a contest run by home style maven Martha Stewart that could net her business a $10,000 prize, and she wants to use the winnings to move her manufacturing operation from Manhattan to Brooklyn, she said.
“This Martha Stewart thing is huge for us,” said designer Alina Skyler of SkylerMan Jewelry. “The ultimate goal would be definitely to move my people into Industry City.”
Much of her operation is based in Brooklyn, But the smelting, molding, and setting takes place on the other side of the East River where jewelry manufacturing space is more abundant, she said.
Still, it’s a Brooklyn business at heart.
Skyler designs her one-of-a-kind bijoux in her Bay Ridge home, where her husband takes promo shots of the finished products, and her sister-in-law handles marketing. Brighton Beach’s Vyater Group maintains her website.
“Even the stamps for our packaging are made locally,” she said. “We try to keep it very artsy.”
The ritzy Ridgite began designing jewelry in 2009, but she didn’t launch her online store until last year. Designs use mostly recycled silver and gold, as well as ethically sourced gemstones, she said.
SkylerMan is a finalist in the 2014 Martha Stewart “American Made” contest, which awards $10,000, a spot in the American Made online store, and play on Stewart’s website. Of 1,000 finalists, only 10 companies will win.
Skyler knows her odds are long, but she’s honored to be among the competition, she said.
“There’s a huge number of people competing, but even to become a finalist is awesome.”
Judges pick nine of the conquering crafters, but one “audience choice” winner will also take home the top prize. Average Joes and Janes get six votes per day and can log their choice on the contest’s website, marthastewart.com/americanmade/nominees.
Skyler said just moving production to Brooklyn isn’t enough — she wants to go full-on Kings County if she takes home the prize money.
“If we could get the ‘Brooklyn Made’ emblem, that would be so cool,” she said.
