LA Wildfires: Devastated Jewelers Vow to Rise from Ashes
January 12, 25
(IDEX Online) - At least two jewelry stores have burned to the ground in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires that have claimed 16 lives, destroyed 12,000 structures and forced more than 100,000 people to evacuate their homes.
Elyse Walker, Jaimie Geller Jewelry were both located in Pacific Palisades (about 20 miles west of downtown Los Angeles) where the first wildfire broke out on Tuesday morning (7 January).
Also in Pacific Palisades was La DoubleJ's first US store, which was due to open in six weeks selling fashion and homeware as well as jewelry.
Elyse Walker, who opened her first namesake boutique in the Palisades 25 years ago, said she was "beyond heartbroken".
In an Instagram post Walker, well-known as a fashion designer, retailer, and entrepreneur, said: "We lost our flagship Elyse Walker Pacific Palisades in the fires. And while that is an incredible loss, I am thankful that our staff is safe and remains unharmed.
"I opened my first store in the Palisades, and it quickly became more than just my business, it became my community. I built my business there, raised my kids there and made relationships there where friends, clients & colleagues became like family.
"While we take time to heal, there is one thing I am confident in— this community always shows up for each other."
Husband and wife team Michael and Jaimie Geller, who opened Jaimie Geller Jewelry in 2008, pledged to rise again like a phoenix from the ashes.
"I don't know how. I don't know when. I don't know where… But we will pick up the pieces and we will move forward," said Jaimie.
"Thank you for all of your outpouring of love and support of me, my family, and the entire JGJ team. I love you from the bottom of my heart.
"To our clients and designers, we're not forgetting you. If you have special orders or jewelry with us, we're working on coordinating everything and you'll hear from us asap."
JJ Martin, the fashion designer and entrepreneur behind LaDoubleJ, said: "We are devastated to report that our store set to open in Pacific Palisades in 6 weeks time, burned to the ground early yesterday morning in LA.
"This was DoubleJ's very first shop in the United States, a labor of love, enthusiasm and total joy, conceived and painstakingly designed by our team over the last 9 months.
"We are unfathomably heartbroken. And at the same time our bleeding hearts go out to every human, every family, parent and child who just lost their home in the ravaged Palisades."
Meanwhile IGI (International Gemological Institute), posted on Instagram: "The fires raging across Los Angeles are impacting our clients, our industry, our colleagues, friends, and families. IGI's thoughts are with the entire L.A. community. We are grateful to all first responders, and we are praying for everyone's safety."
Pix from Instagram and Jaimie Geller Jewelry show all that remains of the store, and file pic of Jaimie Geller.