MMCrystal launches Fall 2009 collection of fine crystal jewelry through new alliance with Montréal fashion house Andy Thê-Anh.

TORONTO, CANADA, October 12, 2009 — MMCrystal has announced the launch of their collection for Fall 2009 with a new fashion alliance, teaming up with visionary Canadian designer Andy Thê-Anh to offer fine Swarovski crystal jewelry in his Montréal and Toronto boutiques.

MMCrystal’s tag line ‘Steal the Spotlight’ underscores the dramatic effect of the brand’s fashion-forward and classic earring, necklace and bracelet designs. And with Andy Thê-Anh Collection’s focus on sophisticated, modern design with an edge, this new pairing is a perfect fit.

“We are very excited to propose the new range of MMCrystal creations at our stores”, says Christine Boivin, public relations director at Thê-Anh’s head office in Montréal. “The designs will be a perfect complement to our designs and especially the ones of our evening collection.”

The pairing of these two creative fashion designers comes hot on the heels of the successful restructuring of Thé-Anh’s company earlier this year. “We are very pleased with the originality of the design, and also the quality of the jewelry,” enthuses Maria Civitillo, Thé-Anh’s director of sales. “This makes MMCrystal a good fit with our brand.”

This season’s jewelry offerings feature multi jewel tone Swarovski crystals and dark metallic finishes, along with MMCrystal’s dazzling crystal creations. Ranging from “red-carpet bold” to refined pearl and traditional styles, the collection features a variety of proprietary chains and settings. Over 150 styles are available to suit professionals, evening and bridal wear; many are featured on the company’s website at http://mmcrystal.com

“I think this is the perfect entrée into the Montreal market for MMCrystal”, says Michelle Merizzi, founder and designer for MMCrystal from her office in Mississauga, Ontario. “Montreal has always had a high fashion sensibility, and we expect a great response to MMCrystal designs, especially in the context of Andy Thê-Anh’s refined glamour and ultra-feminine styles.”

About MMCrystal
MMCrystal designs and manufactures elegant crystal jewelry using Swarovski crystal exclusively for these creations. The singular beauty, inspired artistry and sense of style that is celebrated in the MMCrystal collection is the product of the company’s founder, Michelle Merizzi.

Ms. Merizzi has spent most of her adult life in the fashion industry, creating custom jewelry for Cher, Canada’s first lady Mila Mulroney, and Candice Bergen as well as working in hair and makeup design alongside some of North America’s most sought-after photographers and artistic directors for over 16 years.

MMCrystal’s designs have been worn by celebrities on Grammy, Emmy, Oscar and Golden Globe Awards telecasts in 2008 and 2009, and are featured in television and magazines including ET Canada, E-talk Daily, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, WedLuxe and Wedding Bells magazines, and music videos by Jully Black and Tamia.

About Andy Thé-Anh
Born in Vietnam, Andy Thê-Anh arrived in Canada in 1981 and quickly became one of Canada’s most important designers, with his trendy and ultra-feminine styles for the modern career oriented woman exuding refinement and glamour. He is especially known for his impeccable suits, his ultra-feminine blouses and his drop-dead gorgeous dresses. Andy Thê-Anh has dressed some of the most admired Canadian stars, including Jeanne Beker, Helene Joy, Natalie Brown, Kreesia Turner, Lauren Harper and Divine Brown.

Contact:
Michelle Merizzi
MMCrystal
(905) 629-3725
Website: http://www.mmcrystal.com

Toronto jewelry designer MMCrystal has been selected to adorn the stars of E-Talk Daily and Entertainment Tonight Canada during the world-renowned Toronto International Film Festival, running September 10-19, 2009.

Hosts from Global TV’s popular ETCanada entertainment-news show, including Cheryl Hickey, Rosey Edeh, Arissa Cox and Kim D’Eon, will be wearing selections from MMCrystal’s newest collection, officially released just a few weeks ago. Preparing for the show’s televised red-carpet and gala interviews, Global’s stylist Maggie Bill selected MMCrystal over numerous other designers vying for the spots. “Your jewelry is going over wonderfully,” she said to designer Michelle Merizzi.

And as Tanya Kim’s stylist for E-Talk Daily, Jessa Bissett had only a few comments as she browsed the collection of Swarovski-crystal earrings, necklaces and bracelets during a trip to MMCrystal’s Mississauga office. “Oh, want that… oh yeah, want that too!”, she said as each selection was presented for the media celebrity’s appearances.

MMCrystal is no stranger to the show’s stars. In addition to being the jewelry of choice for red-carpet appearances during ETCanada’s many award-show events (including the Grammies, Emmys and Oscar-night interviews), Cheryl Hickey personally selected MMCrystal’s exclusive fashions for the bridesmaids at her own wedding last year. Merizzi recently remarked “My jewelry has a much more fabulous social life than I do!”

MMCrystal fine crystal jewelry is available at select boutiques and retailers throughout Ontario, and is featured in several national rewards programs and lotteries in Canada. Contact information plus recent and classic items from the jeweller’s collections are found on their website at http://www.mmcrystal.com

More on ET Canada’s Defendor party, a little bit of Miami on a downtown Toronto rooftop.

While we were chatting with Rosey and Kim D’Eon, she introduced Marianne Wisenthal, the Montreal-based editor for Vitamin Daily. Marianne wanted to  know  if MMCrystal is available in Quebec for her upcoming wedding to ET Canada’s exec producer. We don’t have a distributor in Quebec yet, so I told her to contact me directly and I’d hook her up with whatever she likes for herself and her bridesmaids.

I got the chance to talk with Dina Pugliese, the stunning co-host of Breakfast Television. You know, as good as she looks on the screen, she’s even more beautiful in person. Literally sparkling with personality as well as her great smile.

By this time the party was really starting to heat up, my sister was standing at the bar beside Woody Harrelson. Cute, she said. Yeah, I said, I just met Jian Ghomeshi from CBC”s “Q”. Double cute.

We saw Anne-Marie Mediwake from Global News  by the bar and had to tell her how sorry we were to hear that she’s leaving Global News. She lives in Oakville too, not far from Maureen’s current home. We  will miss her on the show,  but with triplets at home…..a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do!

But we weren’t leaving the party yet… more TIFF news and pics coming tomorrow!

Of course, a big part of the Toronto International Film Festival is…

the PARTIES!!

So I took my sister Maureen and went out to the Defendor party at ET Canada’s Festival Central, a glamorous “pop up club” on the very top of an industrial building in downtown Toronto. It was an amazing setting that looked totally like Miami, even though it was staged on the upper level of a parking garage in Yorkville.

Really… the folks at ET Canada sure know how to put on a party!

Fortunately, the place wasn’t too busy when we arrived at about 9pm, so I got to chat with Cheryl Hickey as soon as we walked in. She is the most beautiful pregnant lady ever.. and is ready to explode  right now!  Thank God  her baby’s due in just a few more weeks.

It was such a beautiful night, we stayed near the entrance to Festival Central . The perfect spot to catch people as they came in. That  meant we were close to the action, but far from the bathroom!

When Rosey Edeh came up wearing a stunning black pearl bracelet, she was thrilled to find out it was an MMCrystal piece. And she was smiling triumphantly, telling me that all the other girls were fighting over the bracelet, but she won the chance to wear it tonight for the gala!

That’s music to my ears… women fighting for the chance to wear my jewelry.

I’ll have more news about the TIFF party in my next post. Stay tuned!

Rosey Edeh, Cheryl Hickey and Kim D’Eon at the Defendor after-party
(September 11, 2009 – Photo by Jag Gundu/Getty Images North America)

 

 

Here is a pic of my friend Pepita Diamand at the Huffington-Post Ball at Obama’s Inaguration with her boyfriend Phillipe Leboeuf. They’re talking with Diane Von Furstenburg – Very famous designer!

  

  

 

 

 

In case you’re wondering, Pepita’s wearing ‘Victoria’ 80103 earrings, matched with a 60309 baguette-cuff bracelet.

 

 

 And I found this great picture of Barack Obama’s Inauguration speech, that shows the huge crowd in a panoramic view. What an emotion-charged day that was! You can move the pic around and zoom in on any single person in the audience if you want… (see who else you recognize there)