How a Collective Feminine Vision is Reshaping LA's Jewelry District

"We found a 3,000-square-foot studio space in one of the oldest buildings in the jewelry district," says Wales, who insists on making everything in-house as opposed to outsourcing her manufacturing to one of the district's myriad workshops, like most designers Contrary to reports of its demise, the jewelry district in downtown LA is seeing an influx of female-led jewelry-design firms that are rejuvenating the way business is done in the century-old neighborhood Concentrated near Pershing Square in downtown LA's historic core, the district is home to thousands of retail, wholesale, and manufacturing businesses, many of which fell on hard times in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.

By all accounts, the energy in the district reflects the growing buzz "There's a feeling of something happening here, with creativity and the different cultures and the rebuilding of downtown and the restaurants," says Ann Korman, who founded her brand, ARK Fine Jewelry, in 2016 after getting her start making jewelry in India Korman, who moved to LA from New York City in 1996, had never spent much time downtown before she started her business.

She has worked with a small family-run workshop in downtown LA since 2015 to produce the signet rings and gemstone pendants that are a signature of her up-and-coming brand. . Source