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Dana Reed creating one of her pieces.

Photographs courtesy Mark Shale

 

The finished product: a Dana Reed necklace.

Photographs courtesy Mark Shale

 

Jules Schwanbeck of Jules' necklaces.

Photographs courtesy Mark Shale

 

Rebecca Zemans use her background as a metalsmith in her pieces.

Photographs courtesy Mark Shale

 

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Though the brand is more than 80 years old, Chicago-based clothing company Mark Shale is always working to keep current and—in the case of its new "You Are Here" campaign—hyper-local. "You Are Here" is an ongoing project that showcases and sells pieces from local jewelry designers inside the Chicago-area stores. This inaugural class of designers consists of Rebecca Zemans, Dana Reed, Carolyn Greene of Momi, and Jules Schwanbeck of Jules, all from different Chicago neighborhoods.

The jewelry from this first crop of designers speaks for itself: Zemans’ small sculptural pieces are a result of her experience as a sculptor and wear like true works of art; while polar-opposite Momi’s deconstructed pearl necklaces are casual yet chic.

In addition to selling the jewelry, Mark Shale takes a more in-depth look at each designer’s process and inspiration in a series of blog articles entitled "You Are Here: Inside the Designer’s Studio." The profiles are laden with exclusive interviews and images that give an insider’s look at the tools and environments each jeweler uses to create. 900 N. Michigan Ave., 312-440-0720