its & life

fashion

From globetrotting

bohemians to refined

sophisticates, Karen

Egren offers something

for every woman.

Pam Houghton I Special to the Jewish News

details

Karen Egren Studio, Birmingham. (248) 430-4366;
karenegren.com .
The quick view: Karen Egren sells jewelry and accessories
at every price point in her Birmingham studio. Her jewelry
— an edited collection that includes her own line as well as
independently designed jewelry — includes necklaces, ear-
rings, bracelets and rings, while accessories include scarves,
vests, gloves, hats and handcrafted handbags. She also
caters to groups such as bridal parties to help them acces-
sorize for special occasions.
Her styling philosophy: "Women don't need to spend a lot
of money to look good. It's all about the details," says Egren,
who firmly believes that style should be accessible to all. "I
want every woman to look good at a price point she feels
comfortable with."
On her team of stylists: "Everyone brings something so
wonderful to our team. Together, we create great shopping
experiences for our customers."

42

November 5 2015

B

efore jewelry took Karen Egren's life down

an unexpected path, she was a residential
interior designer with a flair for accessoriz-
ing. "I wore big stacks of bracelets before they became
fashionable Egren says.
But her unique personal style didn't go unnoticed.
"People would stop and ask me about the jewelry I was
wearing. So that's when I started getting into the jew-
elry business a little bit"
A little bit started with a trunk show in Birmingham
at the request of an associate. To Egren's surprise, her
jewelry collection was a hit, and soon, she was asked to
display her merchandise at different country club and
synagogue boutique shows around Metro Detroit.
Creating a collection inspired by both a classic back-
ground in fine art and a natural lean toward experi-
mentation, Egren's pieces have a timeless appeal with a
uniquely creative edge. Interest in Egren's jewelry col-
lection — which hits every price point — grew quickly
through word of mouth, and she soon started holding

monthly trunk shows out of her home. "I started my
jewelry business during the economic downturn:' says
Egren, who has been curating and designing jewelry
for almost nine years. "The ladies who came to see
me were looking for something to give them a lift
— bracelets, earrings and necklaces. Something that
made them look and feel better."
Egren sold and consulted out of her home for
several years before beginning to sell jewelry online,
while continuing to gain more clientele. Then a chance
meeting with a magazine editor changed her life, a
meeting that almost didn't happen.
Egren, a firm believer in trial-and-error learning,
had been succeeding without a plan. But when she
crossed paths with the editor at a crowded event, "I
didn't want to regret a missed opportunity:' she says,
even though she only had seconds to follow through.
So she introduced herself.
It was an introduction worth making. After a brief
conversation, "the editor asked me to contact her