Journal staff report
Jewelry designers and manufacturers have assembled in Providence to learn the latest techniques and designing trends at the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America trade show.
Attendees are offered seminars on a range of topics, including designing with beads, chain making and soldering.
The Providence-based association — which represents 1,900 jewelry companies around the world — used to hold trade shows for major jewelry manufacturers and retailers that worked on orders on the scale of tens of thousands.
Manufacturing began to move overseas, however, and there was little need for such a show in Providence. It went into hibernation.
But as large-scale manufacturers left, individual designers and small-scale manufacturers moved in to take their place.
So in 2006, the show was revived. Since then, it has been tweaked to suit the needs of the individual jewelry maker. This marks the third year for the Providence event.
The trade show started yesterday and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Registration is $10 at the door.
Source: http://www.projo.com
