Denis Kenward’s paua jewellery makes début

*Denis Kenward’s paua jewellery makes début

*One of the most skilled paua craftsmen in the world still a hidden gem himself

*Wellington, May 1* (JY&A Media) There may be numerous companies involved in the creation of jewellery derived from paua shells, but few can match the exquisite craftsmanship of Denis Kenward at the Great New Zealand Paua Company.

Mr Kenward, who has preferred to keep a low profile for his paua jewellery, suddenly gained international attention after appearing in the April 2005 issue of /Lucire./

Some of his paua items highlight the shell's annular rings which are concealed under the surface. They are uncovered when the edges are carefully ground , and polished. Mr Kenward says that he has rarely seen this technique used, and has been told that it adds a distinctive dimension to his work.

This uniqueness makes the Great New Zealand Paua Company’s shells those that would be valued by a connoisseur.

Mr Kenward himself certainly is one. An international designer, he hails from New Zealand and has been diving for shells since he was eight years old.

‘The best quality shell comes from the Bluff, where the colder water provides nature with the excuse to provide extra thickness as insulation,’ he explains.

‘When ground down at the edges, the shells reveal their age rings which, when polished, add a further beautiful dimension to the treasure being crafted.’

Mr Kenward insists that no two pieces are ever the same. Selling via his web site and through selected outlets, he understands that not everyone is inclined toward online purchasing. Therefore, he makes this promise: ‘I guarantee that what you receive will be far more beautiful than what you see online. If it’s not, you may send it back for exchange or refund.’

In addition to his retail range, Mr Kenward will undertake commissions and consultations.

Prior to débuting in /Lucire/, Mr Kenward had quietly built his business and had created designs in bone, aluminium and brass. Despite having created work in California and New Zealand, including an award for Frank Sinatra, Mr Kenward has tended to stay silent about his earlier successes.

The paua jewellery, however, proved so fitting to those seeking natural yet beautiful fashion accessories, including the ecologically conscious way which Mr Kenward harvests his shells. He felt his work met the demands of today’s environmentally conscious consumers.

The Great New Zealand Paua Company’s prices begin at less than $200 and can be viewed at >. The /Lucire/ article about him can be found at and in the April print issue of the magazine.

ENDS

*About /Lucire/

*/Lucire/, the global fashion magazine (>), is one of the world’s leading fashion titles online. Founded in 1997, it covers fashion, beauty, travel and lifestyle, with a global perspective for today’s woman. It is known for providing in-depth, quality journalism. The magazine is targeted at the woman who is tired of the offerings from established fashion players, and chooses to be herself.

In 2003, /Lucire/ received a Webby Award nomination—the only New Zealand site to do so that year—and became the first fashion industry partner of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP, >). It was Official Internet Partner of L’Oréal New Zealand Fashion Week for 2002–3, and a media sponsor of the inaugural San Francisco Fashion Week and Official Media Partner of Stockholm FashionDays for 2004–5. It is official media partner of Fashion Week of the Americas in 2005. A print edition launched in the New Zealand market in October 2004—the first time a fashion magazine went from online to print—and will launch in Romania on May 12, 2005.

According to Alexa, /Lucire/ was one of the top-ranked pure-play fashion titles in the world before embarking into print. It remains one of the top fashion sites globally, ranking second in Google for /fashion magazine.

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