MCL Designs

Matthew Campbell Laurenza

Matthew Campbell Laurenza is an up-and-coming jewelry designer that has quickly become one of Chicago's most sought after men in the business. Born in Colorado, Laurenza, 31, has always been fascinated with arts and crafts and was heavily influenced by the colorful artwork and antiques of his Native American and Italian lineage. Moving to places such as New Mexico, Texas, Kentucky also played a part in his interesting and worldly designs. His signature style is pairing sterling silver with enamel, and encrusting each piece with colored sapphires, rubies and other semi-precious stones. He designs each piece using the most precious materials and finest natural stones, guaranteeing that no one customer will have the exact same piece of jewelry. Laurenza says that when color is used in the right way and to the right effect, it can show the essence of true personality and reflect a person's mood and feelings on any given day, at any given moment. For Fall/Winter 2008, Matthew's collection was inspired by his natural surroundings and features an eclectic blend of rich colors. He will also be launching his first collection of men's designs, which will include cuff links, bracelets, necklaces and rings. You can find Laurenza's collection at Bergdorf Goodman and select Neiman Marcus locations throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.MCLdesign.net.

Runway To Retail: How are you inspired by travel with your designs?
Matthew Campbell Laurenza: I get influenced by moods which people and places seem to project onto me. So when I travel, I not only see different personalities based on the ethnicity of the region but I also get to see many awe inspiring places. Many of my works have had strong Gothic influences as no matter how many times I see a Gothic Cathedral or building I am always left in awe.
RTR: What are your top destinations for inspiration in your work?
MCL: I love big cities like New York, Chicago, Rome, Paris and London. I think I am intrigued by the blending of so many periods and styles of architecture. As a designer, I retain little design aspects from this building or that building which I can draw from to make my jewels just a little bit more interesting.

RTR: Who is the "Matthew Campbell Laurenza" customer?
MCL: A woman who knows what she likes. One who wants to make a conversation or a statement when she enters a room.
RTR: What do you think attracts the Chicago woman to your collection?
MCL: I think it is partly the color and partly its uniqueness as a jewelry style. I believe that people like attention and fashion is one way to receive it. A colorful burst on the wrist or hand adds interest to a possibly plain or colorless outfit. If this color then turns out to be something new or unique, then well, it can lead to a whole conversation.

RTR: When in Chicago, where are your hangouts? What neighborhood best reflects your customer and why?
MCL: I enjoy hanging out at RL. Since I tend to stay downtown, it is very convenient for me and is near the Neiman Marcus on Michigan Avenue, so good for drinks right after personal appearances. They have great Hamburgers which is one of my comfort foods and good cocktails and seem to always have a decent crowd for people watching.

Well, I sell in two Neiman Marcus outlets in Chicago, Northbrook and Michigan Avenue. Both stores represent a totally different client base, yet I am equally successful in both. I think it depends on the woman and if she likes my work.
-Katherine Mingey and Melissa Maynard

Travel in Style with Factio's Newest Issue

Hey, all of you Factio Magazine readers! If you're in Chicago, make sure you pick up a copy of our summer issue! It's packed with style, travel, celeb scoops and the best fashion and art parties (Vogue, 86Collective, Jeff Koons) - everything you find in our websites basically, but in a large oversized, glossy format! Pick it up at high-end places like boutiques (all over Bucktown) or in the magazine boxes in The Loop and off of Michigan Avenue!

Here is a look at some of our favorite pages from this issue...
In Press Trip, we ask our friends in fashion media to tell us about their favorite vacations, and of course, what they packed! Our friends in this feature include, D. Graham Kostic and Amalie Drury from CS magazine, Stacey Roney of Glossed and Found, Kelly Ryan O'Brien and Susanna Homan from Michigan Avenue Magazine, Amy Tara Koch, a Chicago-based trend reporter, Beth Wilson of WWD and Elisabeth Fourmont from Chicago magazine and La Coquette. Not in Chicago, check out the online feature click here.
A special thanks to photographer Kristiina Wilson. We already received a shout out from Papierdoll mag, so thank you! Are you a fashion photographer and interested in working with us? E-mail marketing@factio-magazine.com, Photography in the subject!
Our travels took us to the ever-inspirational Las Alamandas resort in Mexico, at the helm of heiress Isabel Goldsmith-Patiño, who is also featured in the issue! Click here to watch our video on the gorgeous resort.
Find out what to wear, and where to wear it - London, the Greek Islands, Mexico City, Miami and Tokyo.

Beauty is global, we didn't have to tell you that, but we did find some amazing products from all over the world. Shea Terra Organics from Africa, Chidoriya from Japan, La Compagnie de Provence Marseille from France, Ortigia Sicilia from Italy and Summersent, from Evanston (Illinois)!
This page features refreshing designs: MCL Designs, Lana's Shooting Stars, Tanishq, Dana Rebecca Designs. Check it out online.
Factio Magazine produced its 2nd Annual After Art Party for the much-anticipated Artropolis/Art Chicago weekend, bringing on local celebrity hosts Ali Azhar and Kelly Edwards from "Design on a Dime." Sponsors included Artropolis/Art Chicago, The Peshtigo, Branmar Swiss Watches, Rubi Rey Rum, Summersent, IQMatics, Fig Media and Michelle Levelle Boutique.
You know we love our fashion parties, and in this issue there was a slew of them, including Nordstrom's Fall Fashion Preview, An Evening in Vogue, Lux5, Night of Stars, Michelle Levelle Launch Party, and the Gen Art Film Festival, where we re-cap the 5 looks of the Gen Art gals.

A special thanks to our sponsors and advertisers for spring and summer, for without them, we wouldn't be possible. Thank you so much for partnering with us to launch and feature your products. Take a moment to check them out!

Michelle Levelle Boutique
IQMatics
Summersent
The Illinois Institute of Art
W Hotels
James De Colon
En-Vent
Heike Jarick
Rubi Rey Rum
86Collective
Ideeli
The Peshtigo
Art Chicago/Artropolis
Branmar Swiss Watches
Dismero
Gamma Player

Interested in advertising or sponsoring one of our events? We have multi-media opportunities in print, web, e-mail marketing and events. Contact kerchh@factio-magazine.com.

Link it! Fashionable Links from Around the Web! The Week in Chic!

Quinta Trends looks for the perfect coat for the South America winter

Factio Magazine checks out beauty products from the south of France!

Fashion Fille swerves a little off topic to a rising music star- but, don't worry, he still has excellent style!

Fashion Pulse Daily picks the four must-haves from the Tracy Feith for Target Collection

RedPoppy Fashion is in love with sparkling cocktail rings in a rainbow of colors, especially ones from M.C.L. by Matthew Campbell Laurenza's ornate line. Angelina inspires

Runway to Retail with her look from Cannes...Here's how you can steal the style!