Maven

Ravin' About Maven

Tori Spelling's charm-ing fandangle
LOS ANGELES: Thursday, June 09, 2005

Instead of just charging up stuff until their Amex cards were torn to shreds, shopping samurais Tori Spelling and her best friend, Mehran Ferhat, turned their love of style into a business. In May 2004, the duo debuted their jewelry line, Maven. Jumpstarted by a diamond dog bone pendant Spelling designed for the charity Much Love Animal Rescue, the collection has become a favorite of young Hollywood chic-ettes like Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff, and Kelly Osbourne. Maven’s signature is charm bracelets in yellow gold, which come in six themes: “Under the Sea,” “Lucky Charms,” “Vegas Baby,” “New York, New York,” “Hawaii 5-0” and “Love Chain.” The “I Do” necklace features two champagne glasses, a wedding cake, a bride and groom, and a wedding ring. “My wedding planner, Mindy Weiss, sells that,” Spelling says over coffee on Robertson Boulevard. “It’s something that’s fun to get as a present when you get engaged.”

“Fun” is the operative word with Maven. The line, mostly in yellow gold, is sold at Kitson, Fred Segal and Intuition in LA, and at Intermix in New York. Spelling and Ferhat decided to keep the line at affordable price points to reach a broad market. One of our favorite pieces is a necklace of interlocked thin 14 karat gold discs that comes in three different lengths and retails from $350-$750 dollars. “We wanted to get the company off the ground and make a profit to get to the point where the company is big enough that we can make fine pieces in limited editions,” Spelling says, sounding very power-businesswoman-like. Ferhat, who is tall, dark, and handsome, concurs. “You have to just jump in when starting a business.”

Maven’s next collection features stones like jade, coral, and turquoise, with an Eastern, mystical vibe. Charms, especially elephants and animal-themed pieces, are also evident. Down the line, they hope to launch both an all-silver, lower priced line called Mavenette, as well as a high-end collection that reinterprets and tweaks the intricate, romantic, filigree Deco pieces from the 20s and 30s. “I see lots of diamonds in our future,” Spelling predicts with glee.

As they sip lattes, the bosom buddies and business partners reminisce about the early days of their friendship. They met at 15 and became fast friends. What drew the two to each other? “Well, I’m gay,” cracks Ferhat. “And I’m chic,” responds Spelling.

Originally, Spelling and Ferhat wanted to design a clothing line. “We sit in bed, literally, and sketch stuff,” reports Ferhat. Spelling specifically chose the name Maven because it could encompass more than a jewelry line. “And I’m a fashion maven,” she adds with a giggle. Two peas in a very fashionable pod, Spelling and Ferhat work out of an office in Spelling’s Los Angeles apartment. “We never fight,” Ferhat claims. “We have very similar taste. We feed off each other’s ideas. We’ve never had an argument about jewelry.” Spelling agrees: “Fashion and style is our bond.” PETER DAVIS Photos courtesy of Maven

Ravin' About Maven Tori Spelling's charm-ing fandangle LOS ANGELES: Thursday, June 09, 2005 Instead of just charging up stuff until their Amex cards were torn to shreds, shopping samurais Tori Spelling and her best friend, Mehran Ferhat, turned their love of style into a business. In May 2004, the duo debuted their jewelry line, Maven. Jumpstarted by a diamond dog bone pendant Spelling designed for the charity Much Love Animal Rescue, the collection has become a favorite of young Hollywood chic-ettes like Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff, and Kelly Osbourne. Maven’s signature is charm bracelets in yellow gold, which come in six themes: “Under the Sea,” “Lucky Charms,” “Vegas Baby,” “New York, New York,” “Hawaii 5-0” and “Love Chain.” The “I Do” necklace features two champagne glasses, a wedding cake, a bride and groom, and a wedding ring. “My wedding planner, Mindy Weiss, sells that,” Spelling says over coffee on Robertson Boulevard. “It’s something that’s fun to get as a present when you get engaged.” “Fun” is the operative word with Maven. The line, mostly in yellow gold, is sold at Kitson, Fred Segal and Intuition in LA, and at Intermix in New York. Spelling and Ferhat decided to keep the line at affordable price points to reach a broad market. One of our favorite pieces is a necklace of interlocked thin 14 karat gold discs that comes in three different lengths and retails from $350-$750 dollars. “We wanted to get the company off the ground and make a profit to get to the point where the company is big enough that we can make fine pieces in limited editions,” Spelling says, sounding very power-businesswoman-like. Ferhat, who is tall, dark, and handsome, concurs. “You have to just jump in when starting a business.” Maven’s next collection features stones like jade, coral, and turquoise, with an Eastern, mystical vibe. Charms, especially elephants and animal-themed pieces, are also evident. Down the line, they hope to launch both an all-silver, lower priced line called Mavenette, as well as a high-end collection that reinterprets and tweaks the intricate, romantic, filigree Deco pieces from the 20s and 30s. “I see lots of diamonds in our future,” Spelling predicts with glee. As they sip lattes, the bosom buddies and business partners reminisce about the early days of their friendship. They met at 15 and became fast friends. What drew the two to each other? “Well, I’m gay,” cracks Ferhat. “And I’m chic,” responds Spelling. Originally, Spelling and Ferhat wanted to design a clothing line. “We sit in bed, literally, and sketch stuff,” reports Ferhat. Spelling specifically chose the name Maven because it could encompass more than a jewelry line. “And I’m a fashion maven,” she adds with a giggle. Two peas in a very fashionable pod, Spelling and Ferhat work out of an office in Spelling’s Los Angeles apartment. “We never fight,” Ferhat claims. “We have very similar taste. We feed off each other’s ideas. We’ve never had an argument about jewelry.” Spelling agrees: “Fashion and style is our bond.” PETER DAVIS Photos courtesy of Maven	Featured in Fashion Week Daily on June 9, 2005. .

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