ANTHONY NAK FINE JEWELRY, INC. TO OPEN RETAIL SPACE, PRODUCTION FACILITIES, CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN FALL 2003; M.J. Neal, Architect to Design Innovative Interior for High-End Space for Internationally Renowned Jeweler to the Stars

After incredible growth in the last three years, and establishing an impressive roster of celebrity clients, Anthony Nak Fine Jewelry, Inc. is opening their first store in Austin, Texas where their headquarters are located. Their striking pieces can also be found in fine stores around the world.

Austin, Texas (PRWEB) July 30, 2003 -- Anthony Nak Fine Jewelry, Inc., an Austin-based international company with a well-known celebrity clientele, has announced plans to open a 1,000 square foot retail space in downtown Austin in October 2003. In addition to the space located at 800 Brazos Street, a 4,500 square foot space is being remodeled at the same location to accommodate corporate headquarters and a state of the art production facility.

According to co-owners Anthony Camargo and David Nakard Armstrong, they are planning an official ceremony marking the beginning stages of construction in mid-August. They plan to open the store in late October, with an invitation-only launch party sometime in early November. Dates will be announced soon.

Camargo and Armstrong said the decision to create a high-end space in Austin was in response to overwhelming product demand and extreme growth in the last two years. Until May 2003, the business was housed in a smaller space on Burnet Road.

Our growth has been phenomenal because people in the fashion, entertainment, design and jewelry industries have identified something totally new in what were creating," Camargo said. And when we wanted to open our first store, it just made sense to do it in conjunction with expanding our corporate headquarters and production facilities. Also, the management at 800 Brazos Building shares our ambitious vision for this space. Theyve been very accommodating."

According to Vic Russo, VP Leasing & Management for Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. which manages 800 Brazos, the partnership has been exciting. We are extremely proud to have Anthony Nak on our tenant roster at 800 Brazos. Their decision to launch their store downtown is a strong signal of Austins vitality," Russo said.

Since its inception in 1998, Anthony Nak has catered to celebrities clients including Jennifer Lopez, First Lady Laura Bush, Liv Tyler, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sarah Jessica Parker, Reese Witherspoon, Cher, Britney Spears, Natasha Richardson, Lucy Liu, Sandra Bullock, Vanessa Redgrave, Cameron Diaz, among many others.

Though they are lauded in the New York and L.A. fashion communities as rising stars in the art and business of fine jewelry design, the partners are committed to staying true to their Austin beginnings.

We wanted to launch our first boutique in Austin because we strongly believe that downtown has the potential to become a major shopping and culture destination," Camargo said. We want to give Austinites and visitors the same kind of sophisticated shopping experience that you would get in visiting our case line in Barneys NY. Downtown already has a wealth of great restaurants and beautiful hotels. We just want to add our sensibility to that distinguished mix."

Camargo and Armstrong chose architect M.J. Neal to design the striking interior of the retail space after purchasing one of the architects award-winning Twin Peaks" residences located in South Austin.

We like M.J.s sensibility and approach to creating a space that is truly a continuation of what we value in design. He understands how to break away from the limitations of a traditional jewelry store. This retail space will flow beautifully and feature a totally unique modular case line accented by pickled wood flooring that reaches from the floor to the ceiling overhead," Armstrong said. Well also have a full wall dedicated to projected images- for example, a full-size projection of a woman sipping a cocktail and wearing some of our pieces. This will be an ideal canvas for our evolving product lines and the images will reflect that."

After the Austin opening, the partners are considering opening Anthony Nak boutiques in Paris and London.

For more information about Anthony Nak or to schedule an interview with Mr. Camargo and Mr. Armstrong, please contact Jennifer Hill, Hoopla Media & Communications at 512.458.1222 or 512.636.3797. Architectural renderings of the space are available upon request.To view products, or for additional retail information, watch their web show at www.anthonynak.com.

ABOUT ANTHONY NAK

Partners Anthony Camargo and David Nakard Armstrong launched their company in 1998 in Austin, Texas. Their jewelry is a distinctive and sexy mix of fine gemstones and striking 18K draping gold. Their designs incorporate elements of sophistication, beauty, invention and a constantly evolving combination of shape, color and texture. They were recently awarded the 2003 Fashion Guild International Rising Star" Award. In 2002 they were a Gen Art finalist for Best New Designer.

Their accomplishments have been recognized in InStyle, Jewel Box Profile" May, 2001; Robb Report Front Runners" March, 2003; and Jewelry Connoisseur Trends" Winter, 2003. Their pieces have been featured in the pages of Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Town and Country, WWD, Glamour, InStyle, Basel Magazine, Elle, W and Marie Claire. Anthony Nak pieces can be found in fine stores in major U.S. cities and internationally.

ABOUT M.J. NEAL, ARCHITECT

M.J Neal established his firm in 1993 in Austin, Texas. A graduate of Texas Tech University, he began the fourth generation of his familys architectural heritage. This year, he won the Texas Society of Architects Design Award for Twin Peaks Single Family Residences located in Austin. In 2003 Mr. Neal also won a Citation of Honor by the American Institute of Architects for Ramp House.

His professional accomplishments have been chronicled in books including Houses of the World, The Art of Outdoor Lighting, Plans of Architecture -- Restaurant Details, Austin American-Statesman, San Antonio Express-News, and Tribeza Magazine, among others.