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Community Corner

Alexandra Beth Jewelry Returns to Potomac

Alexandra Samit, a Winston Churchill High School graduate and Potomac native, will bring her newest line of New York City jewelry designs to the D.C. area this holiday season.

This weekend Alexandra Samit will bring her latest collection of Alexandra Beth jewelry designs to the as part of a series of D.C. area shows leading into the holiday shopping season. A portion of the proceeds will support the Connelly School.

Samit, a graduate, moved to New York City after attending Emory University in Atlanta, but she hasn’t forgotten the hometown support she received years ago when she was still 15 years old and jewelry design was just a hobby.     

“I always grew up doing arts and crafts. I was making necklaces for myself and then my friends wanted me to make some for them and after that my mom and I called some boutiques and it just stared growing,” she said. Her mother, , who now handles her daughter’s media relations, was Alexandra’s biggest supporter.

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“She made a necklace that reminded me of one that I liked when I was younger and we called a shop and the next thing I know we’re driving to the beach and this chain of 13 stores bought 90 necklaces,” Anne said. “It was kind of a surprise because we didn’t have a business yet, but it inspired a lot of confidence in her. Now it’s so formalized and she’s been doing this full-time for two years now,” she added.  

Alexandra, who studied business in college, started thinking about jewelry design after interning with Ivanka Trump’s diamond jewelry company and other stores and jewelry collectives in New York City.

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She got her big break after waiting in line for five hours outside a Henri Bendel store for five minutes to display her products in a “trunk show.” She brought out the biggest display case she had, filled with her signature leather bracelets.

The wait paid off and a few months later she received callbacks for sales orders and trunk show appearances. Now, at 24, her bracelets, necklaces and earrings can run anywhere from $20 to $180 and Alexandra says she is one of the youngest participants in many shows.

Alexandra isn’t afraid to take risks, her mother said. “A job isn’t a guarantee anymore,” Anne said. “Being open to taking chances is key.”

After her stop at the Connelly School, Alexandra will appear at showcases in Rockville (B’nai Israel Congregation, Dec. 1), Bethesda (Greens Sale and Holiday Boutique, Dec. 1-2) and again in Potomac at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center from December 3-5.  

Find out more about Alexandra’s holiday shows in the D.C. area here

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