26 August 2013

Vanilla inkers set for London

A group of aspiring Dundee-based jewellers are set to show off their stunning designs at the UK's biggest trade show next week thanks to the tremendous support shown to them by the public.

The designers from the award-winning Vanilla Ink Studios will exhibit at International Jewellery London after raising £8,115 through the Kickstarter.com website - far exceeding the initial target of £6,800 that was needed to pay for their space at the prestigious event. By the time the campaign came to an end, 242 pledges had been received from individuals, business, and other organisations.

Vanilla Ink founder Kate Pickering, a graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD), said the jewellers were now looking to repay the faith shown in them by their Kickstarter supporters.

"The local support has been amazing but we knew it would be as Dundee is such a supportive community for creative industries," said Kate.

"We are really keen to represent Dundee and show the jewellery and design world what we are made of. We created a real buzz with the campaign, and the time has come to really follow up on that and hopefully make a real impact at International Jewellery London, which is the biggest trade show in the UK."

Kickstarter is a crowd-funding platform where those who make a pledge are offered something in return for their support. Vanilla Ink put together an innovative range of handcrafted goods, including one-off and bespoke jewellery pieces for those who made pledges ranging from £1 to £700.

Kate founded Vanilla Ink at WASPS, the unique creative hub supporting craft, innovation and collaboration in the industrial quarter of Dundee, in July 2012. Since then it has played host to an exciting and diverse range of jewellers and jewellery. Resources are extended to open up craft to the wider audience by hosting a varied programme of jewellery classes for all levels.

The nine jewellery designers who will be travelling to London are all self-employed and based within the Vanilla Ink Studios. Six are graduates of DJCAD.

The Studios serve as a business incubator for start-up jewellers and have won awards for their innovative approach to supporting talented individuals looking to make their mark in the creative industries. Many of the jewellers, who faced stiff competition to earn a place at Vanilla Ink for one year following graduation, have themselves won awards for design and craft.

Having received funding from organisations promoting entrepreneurship, Kate hopes to continue to grow Vanilla Ink. A new crop of eight Vanilla Inkers will be welcomed into the Studios in October 2013, and she hopes one day to establish a Vanilla Ink in every major city.

International Jewellery London takes place at Earls Court from 1st-4th September.

More information about Vanilla Ink is available at vanillainkstudios.co.uk

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
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University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
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E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
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