Tiffany Ala Moana reveals new look

Nadine Kam photos
Tiffany's new leather goods salon is part of the Ala Moana store's new look, revealed today.

Tiffany & Co. at Ala Moana Center hosted its grand reopening this morning, following a complete renovation that includes new panel artwork, a nearly floor to ceiling chandelier, private showroom and leather goods salon.

I was given a sneak peek yesterday, with a mini tour from none other than Tiffany Leather Collection design directors John Truex and Richard Lambertson, in town for the grand opening and their own peek at the salon that grew around their collection, introduced a mere two years ago, that now encompasses more than 300 items including small leather goods, travel bags for men and women, and a full range of day and evening purses for women.

"Competition is fierce out here so if we were going to do leather, we were going to do leather," said Truex, who was admiring the new salon.

"What they did here is breathtaking. It's so client focused and the collection looks phenomenal in this space," he said, adding that the increased space allows them to show "the more novel, collectible and humorous side of Tiffany."

Truex explained the duo's process of "hanging back and looking at who's peeking in the windows, and asking 'What would she want?' "

They also considered such clientele as the woman who appreciates art and architecture, and asking what she would like to carry. Some of the collection features sleek rectangular and curvilinear Art Deco lines.

Before joining Tiffany three years ago, John Truex, above, and Richard Lambertson were considered in the industry to be the go-to designers for animal print leather goods, and they've brought that expertise to Tiffany, introducing animal prints and exotic skins.

The designers brought with them a sampling of the Spring 2013 collection as well, with bright yellow, orange, white and honey hues inspired by Holland, tulips, daffodils and the purity of flowers.

"Coming off the fall political season," Truex said, their feeling was one of cutting loose of the negative campaigns and taking a happy approach to life.

Amen to that.

Tiffany Ala Moana's new, shimmering chandelier.

Tiffany Fall 2011 Leather Collection arrives

Nadine Kam photos
Tiffany Leather Collection designers John Truex and Richard Lambertson were in town to introduce the Fall-Winter 2011 designs. They're shown with their classic TRT (Tiffany Reversible Tote, small) in Tiffany Blue/Silver. My first encounter with the leather collection came at the Junior League of Honolulu's "Sacs in the City" event in March, where a version of the Avenue shopper in Tiffany Blue was the subject of a bidding war at silent auction. That led me to the store, where I picked up TRT in pink/metallic.

Tiffany Leather Collection designers John Truex and Richard Lambertson were at the Waikiki boutique Aug. 17, and the Ala Moana Center store Aug. 18, with a Waikiki reception later that evening to introduce the full Fall-Winter 2011 collection.

The introduction of the new line was a great opportunity for the two designers to build a collection seemingly from scratch. In my interview with John and story that appeared in the paper Aug. 18, he noted that of course with a history like Tiffany's, dating to 1837, there is an iconic association with its diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, silver and fine jewelry. But, because they are first and foremost a jewelry company, they had few signatures when it came to leather.

That left the designers free to create, and create they did. The collection is vast, covering the gamut from small leather goods, to shoppers, evening bags, men's leather bags and wallets to serious handbags from exotic leathers.

The very first collection caught handbag lovers' attention, and they're well on their way to achieving icon status equal to some of the best known bags of the last century. An amazing job for a line that's been public for only a year.

Its creation was just as fast. John said it took six months from their start to delivering samples, and a year for the first pieces to arrive at the store. With a company as big as Tiffany, that amounts to moving a mountain, with everyone from supply management team to marketing and advertising departments moving in unison.

Tiffany photo
TRTs (Tiffany Reversible Totes) in fall colorways, including Pesto and Light Walnut. Love the green, as well as the Bordeaux (not pictured)! Not quite ready to jump into fall, though. It's the summer light!

Truex and Lambertson's work for evening.

I love all the leather goods details that read "Tiffany," from silver-tone hardware to Tiffany Blue stitching, as well as discreet logo hardware. (Note that I have boosted the contrast to show the blue, which makes the silver appear black.)

Tiffany Vivian soft clutches for fall.

Confections in Tiffany Blue, served at the open house.

After a while, with Tiffany on the brain, I noticed that the color of the Ilikai is quite close.