Alexis Bittar
(1969 - )
Alexis Bittar was born on August 25, 1969 in New York. Bittar’s parents are both professors and antique collectors. Since he was thirteen, young Bittar started selling flowers, vintage jewelry and clothing in the streets
of New York City.
Bittar’s first designs were made of depression era glass, chandelier parts and Bakelite. In 1990, he discovered Lucite, an acrylic material similar to glass and began to create pieces which he carved hand-painted and gilded. Retro Bakelite and Lalique glass were his sources of inspiration during that time. Bittar created luminescent jewelry that was extraordinary combining sculpture and reflection of light. Soon his clientele began to appreciate his creations and he decided to create a brand with his name.
In 1992, the idea of using Lucite proved to be successful: Bittar's creations stirred the attention of the luxury store Henri Bendel, of the Guggenheim Museum store and of Dawn Mello, fashion director at Bergdorf Goodman, who helped him to move the first steps in entering the market. In 1996 Bittar designed a furniture line in Lucite and stainless steel for the Cooper Hewitt Museum and a homeware collection exclusively sold at Bergdorf Goodman and Takashimaya in New York. In 1998, stylist Lori Goldstein worked on a photo shoot for Vogue, using his jewelry. He has also started selling to Saks Fifth Avenue and began exporting his lines to Japan and London. In 1998 Bittar created the first Burberry prêt-a-porter jewelry collection: the iconic plaid of the British fashion house was put on Lucite.
The first Alexis Bittar jewelry line, his iconic “Lucite collection” was influenced by retro Bakelite and Lalique glass and was created out of hand carved painted and gilded Lucite. The second line “Elements” featured the beauty of precious and semi precious stones mixed with metals and shapes, gold, rhodium, and gunmetal molten items. Bittar’s semi-precious pieces combine the finest quality gems such as sapphire, pink tourmaline, green amethyst and Mabe pearl with intricate designs. Bittar’s third line, Miss Havisham, had a more sculptural mood, mixing Art Nouveau and punk suggestions. Both lines showed off Bittar's ability to combine unusual textures with bold colors creating statement pieces. The result is a collection of jewelry that epitomizes a refined, delicate aesthetic. Each piece of jewelry is handcrafted and hand painted by skilled artisans, all of whom work out of the designers Brooklyn based studio.
In 2007, the Victoria & Albert Museum asked him to design a limited edition piece to celebrate the opening of the William and Judith Bollinger Jewelry Gallery. Bittar presented a Lucite cuff bracelet inspired by an antique Chinese tapestry pattern and called it “Cherry on the Cake.” Alexis Bittar has also been working with the Museum of Modern Art in New York for over fifteen years, for which he has created exclusive pieces.
Alexis Bittar's celebrity clientele includes personalities such as Barbara Walters, Madeleine Albright, Oprah Winfrey, Eve, Annette Bening, Pink, Queen Latifah and Lady Gaga. Joan Collins is the current face of Alexis Bittar.
In 2008, and later in 2010, Alexis Bittar worked closely with Michael Kors for the accessories of the Spring/Summer 2008 and Spring/Summer 2010 collections. The latter is made of Lucite bead necklaces and transparent cuff bracelets.
Today, Bittar’s designs are being offered at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, MOMA and other high-end boutiques worldwide. He has three retail locations in Manhattan's SoHo, West Village, and Upper East Side on Madison.
Alexis Bittar’s jewelry has been featured in Italian Vogue, InStyle, The New York Times Magazine, New York, German Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, W, Harper’s and Queen, and on “Sex in the City.”
In 2004, the Accessories Council of Excellence gave him the Rising Star of the Year award. In June 2010, Bittar was recognized with the important Accessory Designer of the Year award by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Alexis Bittar is considered one of the most innovative jewelry designers of the Twenty-First Century.
