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NYC Luxury’s Izzy and Gavriel Recall Working with Drake, Virgil Abloh, Lil Durk and Lil Baby

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Located in the heart of New York City’s Diamond District on 47th street, between 5th and 6th Avenue, business partners, Gavriel Davidov and Izzy Luxury aka Izzy the Jeweler have pieced together a diamond empire, icing out some of the biggest names in the world of entertainment and sports with personalized jewelry.

Gavriel Davidov, his brother Moses Davidov, and Izzy Luxury established their partnership under NYC Luxury in 2017 and since then they’ve spent countless hours refining their craft, operating under tight deadlines and always exceeding the over-the-top expectations of their celebrity clientele. With the capability to produce endlessly elaborate designs that one can conjure , NYC Luxury helps clients make a bold statement with their luxurious custom pieces.

Designing diamond chains and iced out pendants for the likes of Virgil Abloh, Drake, Lil Durk and Lil Baby, there’s no question this dynamic team of jewelers and experts have made their lasting mark on the jewelry industry and the Diamond District for years to come. “We are constantly working on making our brand more luxurious with each new creation. and pushing the limits of what can be created with these resources. We are endlessly challenged because we are creating art combining one of the softest metals with one of the hardest minerals,” Izzy the Jeweler explained.

“We are working with some of the most expensive materials in the world to create a cartoon character and it’s become second nature to us,” Gavriel Davidov added. “We are constantly reminding ourselves what we are doing for a living. We are taking the most rare and the most expensive materials in the world to create fun pieces so that people can enjoy and express themselves through art.”

At one point in time during this rags to riches story, the founders were neighboring businesses competing for a piece of the same pie, not knowing that someday they would become good friends and business partners making millions a year and working with high-profile customers. Gavriel recalls taking a blind leap of faith in trusting his new business partners after starting with virtually nothing in 2014.

“I was missing an element of my business that Izzy had,” Gavriel Davidov explained. “He grew up amongst the jeweler community, a lot of guys from the community are fellow Jews. And I was just like an outsider, people didn’t really know me. So it was really hard for me to win the guy’s trust in me. So I knew I had to get a familiar face on my team and Izzy was that guy. He had what I was missing. I was focused on growing my sales and it made sense to partner with somebody who was smart with the supply chain and manufacturing so I gave him an opportunity to come work for me. Seven months later I offered him equity in the company and we partnered up.”

The partnership led to massive growth on a scale Gavriel, Izzy and Moses hadn’t imagined, achieving over 200 and 300 percent growth year after year. Among a range of personalized jewelry options for clients, NYC Luxury specializes in Cuban links, picture pendants, custom tennis chains, real gold necklaces and personalized watches.

“Me and my brother Moses had a business and now we had a third person, so now we could be in 3 different cities and all be selling in these different cities. If we screw one another, then we screw over ourselves and I just took a blind leap of faith in the business. Once we put our brands together and combined forces, we were having 200-300 percent growth,” Gavriel Davidov said.

“Our business started doubling and then doubling again. We did 3 million, 6 million, then 10 million, then 20 million. Now our e-commerce site just launched and we are at almost one million in sales just online. We really just focused on each other’s strengths. I knew I wasn’t the strongest in manufacturing and so I focused on the human resources aspect of the business and Izzy focused on the supply chain and manufacturing aspect of the business. The human resources element was really what separated us from the bunch. Our sales team is very diverse and we weren’t just hiring his family like everyone else in the space. We have people from all walks of life at NYC Luxury.”

Beyond the business savvy practices, the depth and magnitude of NYC Luxury’s work within the fashion industry is legendary. They had one such opportunity when the late Virgil Abloh asked them to help him design his signature candlestick caricature as a necklace.

“I create almost all the pieces we make and I like getting that phone call to see how far I can push the bar,” Izzy the Jeweler recalled. “First, you have to acknowledge that this

guy’s a creative genius right? That was the first time our design team was completely obsolete and not needed at all. Virgil completely designed the whole piece himself with just a little of our help. It was the first time we ever got a 3D print in the mail of an item that a client wanted us to make.”

“I worked with Virgil for about 6 months on this piece. You know just going back and forth and changing minor things. We changed the design maybe like 4 or 5 times and it was just very interesting to work with him because he was just such a creative mind and it was just a different way of going back and forth about what he would change. He would change the most minor details which kind of reminds me of myself because I’m very anal about details. He would change the smallest things and it’s just not what an average client would think of when we work with them.”

“I also really liked making the Lil Baby piece, that was one of my favorite pieces I made. And of course Lil Durk – he’s my day one guy. Like I mean me and Durk go way back like since 2014. “

Recalling some of his favorite work, Gavriel Davidov spoke about his team coming together to make Drake’s emoji chain which had 23 different pieces assembled to make one chain.

“My favorite piece that we made was Drake’s piece, the one with the emojis. I’m a big fan of Drake. I’ve been listening to his music for a while now and it’s just iconic that we got to work with him. I like the fact that there were 23 pieces assembled to make an actual chain, so 23 individual projects. We had a very short deadline to do it, but I kinda liked to see how our team came together. I liked how it was all hands on deck and how we succeeded and executed correctly when not too many companies in the world can do that. Not too many companies can come together and divide up the work and bring it all together and be involved and execute as well as we did. I’m so proud of this team. When Drake posted it on a story, it just solidified us in the jewelry space, like these guys are here and they’re not leaving, they’re here to stay.”

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Entertainment

Blaxicana Fest 2024 Invaded Downtown Los Angeles

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"Blaxicana Fest 2024"

Models: Kobe J Banks, Modi3st, Arianna, & Megan Spence

The 2024 BLAXICANA FEST invaded downtown Los Angeles in high fashion and style. Hosted at ZAYA DTLA this year’s festivities brought out an intimate crowd who truly understood how diverse and rich Los Angeles culture is. As the Blaxicana brand prides itself on being an upscale fashion and music festival, they showcased live art, music and fashion at the highest form of creativity.

Founder, CEO and showrunner Alece Plasencia got a chance to witness her dream play out in real time for the second year in a row. As her goal is to bridge Hispanic and African American culture and art, she did an excellent job of showcasing her vision as a fashion trailblazer and appreciation for both cultures.

To start the show Olivia Hynes curated a live art show wowing onlookers, as they indulged in food and drink ahead of the fashion show. DJ Blaserk, whose mix was electric, got the party going early with a high energy set that blended both Mexican and Black hit songs. Participants were seen taking photos at the photo booth while models and performers hit the red carpet.

Hosted by Grammy Award Winning artist SEPTIMIUS THE GREAT, he encouraged attendees to visit the pop up show as the music portion of the festival was underway. “It is an honor and pleasure to be here as this is the spring showing of Blaxiana. I love the fact that this brand mixes black and mexican culture with music and fashion for everyone. Talk about community, talk about fashion, talk about inclusivity, no matter who you are it is all about one person. That is what Blaxicana Fest is all about.”

Rising artist Steven Charles set the tone early followed by songstress MXKA who serenaded her audience. Grammy artist SEPTIMIUS THE GREAT rounded out the performers amping up everyone’s excitement for the fashion show. What made the fashion show so unique was that luxury handbags were displayed live on the runway further embodying the “Blaxicana” vision. Once the models hit the runway, everyone became immersed immediately. From the vivid colors, to the inspiring artwork displayed on each article of clothing, it was truly an unforgettable experience.

Malik Versatility who coordinated the models looks, walks, and outfit choices shared with me that he was very honored to be there as this was his first event with Blaxicana. “Working behind the scene as a model coordinator is a blessing in disguise because you get to really network with a bunch of different nationalities and get to see how beautiful Blaxicana is from a different perspective especially in reference to unity. We have issues with unity and this really expresses the energy of what Blaxicana really is.”

To close out the show, DJ STARRZA delivered a sick set as guests mixed and mingled for the rest of the event. You will not want to miss out on the next one. Follow @blaxicana to see more coverage on this amazing event.

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Entertainment

50 Years of Hip Hop Celebrated and Respected in Fashion

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In the summer of 2023, a unique fashion show took place, thanks to the combined efforts of GoodGirlPR, HipHopCloset, AllHipHop, and The Oracle Media. This distinctive event celebrated half a century of hip-hop fashion, capturing the attention of hip-hop aficionados and fashion enthusiasts alike.

“The event finally came to fruition as a truly unique and special occasion, celebrating both the rich history of hip-hop and the fashion that has evolved alongside it,” describes Nickie Robinson, Founder of GoodGirlPR.

The vibrant city of Brooklyn, New York, known for being the birthplace of many hip-hop legends and a central hub for hip-hop culture, hosted the event. Its location added genuine authenticity and relevance to the occasion. The luxury car brand PORSCHE was the chosen partner for the event, adding a glamorous and chic touch to the atmosphere.

Video courtesy of The Oracle Media

Chuck Creekmur, the founder of the iconic hip-hop website AllHipHop.com, stated, “Hip-hop and fashion are intrinsically linked, and it was a joy to celebrate the culture and the remarkable style that has emerged over the past 50 years.”

Hip-hop legends like Pete Rock and Tek of Smif-N-Wessun (Cocoa Brovaz) graced the event, reminding attendees of the profound connection between hip-hop and fashion. Their presence combined with the participation of fashion influencers and bloggers along the runway emphasized the significant influence of hip-hop on global fashion trends.

DJ T. Boogie ignited the evening with a diverse blend of music, maintaining high energy levels and a vibrant atmosphere throughout the show. Attendees savored the elegance of Bartenura cocktails while admiring models styled by Khalilah Clark on behalf of HipHopCloset.

The event also celebrated the 25th anniversaries of HipHopCloset and AllHipHop, marking a significant milestone in their respective journeys within the hip-hop industry. This alone demonstrated their ongoing influence and contributions to the hip-hop world.

Kyiesha Kelly, the owner of HipHopCloset, reflects, “This year, we are marking 25 years of business and five decades of hip-hop. This fashion show was our tribute to the culture and the iconic moments we’ve shared over the years. It was crucial for us to present the clothing in a genuine and relatable manner, highlighting the luxury aspect of hip-hop fashion.”

In summary, the event was a harmonious blend of music, fashion, and celebration. It brought together hip-hop enthusiasts, fashion fans, and industry insiders to commemorate hip-hop’s rich legacy and its influential role in shaping global fashion and creativity trends as we approach the year’s end.

Hip-hop artist Cruch Calhoun

HipHopCloset model

Photo credit:
Erwin Kersellius/Cent One Studios
Oclw Productions

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Artist

Brunch with Sherls – A Night in Havana

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Brunch with Sherls – A Night in Havana

“Brunch with Sherls. A Night in Havana” was a fantastic event with a captivating atmosphere and lineup. Sherls’ vision to create a diverse and memorable experience seems to have resonated well with attendees. The anticipation built around the secret location and the focus on visual appeal and talented DJs adds to the allure of the event. Sherls’ dedication to fostering a sense of community and providing an unforgettable experience shines through her hard work and attention to detail.

“I have spent so much time planning this event and look forward to seeing all of my hard work and vision captured in the event photos. It will be a day to remember. I will make sure of that,” exclaims Sherls.

Founded in 2019 by Sherls, the inspiration behind creating Brunch with Sherls was to establish a lifestyle brand that would bring people of diverse cultures together where individuals could connect, network, and make lasting memories while enjoying an elevated brunch experience. This is achieved by focusing on creating an atmosphere that is visually stunning, with carefully curated design and decor. Showcasing some of the most talented DJs in her community, Sherls provides her guests with an unforgettable musical experience. The goal is to create a space where people can come together, have fun, and relish the company of others in a unique and memorable way. As an event curator, Sherls has always been inspired by incredible experiences and plans well-executed events that foster a sense of community among its guests, who the brand affectionately refer to as “Brunchers.” These individuals are the lifeblood of Brunch with Sherls, bringing their unique personalities and energy to every brunch.

For more information, visit: https://instagram.com/brunchwithsherls?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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