Beth Hutchens | |
|---|---|
| Occupations | Jewelry designer, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1996 – present |
| Known for | Co-founder of Foundrae |
Beth Hutchens [1] (also known as Beth Bugdaycay [2] ) is a jewelry designer and entrepreneur living in New York City. [3] [4] [5] [6] In 2019, she was nominated for the CFDA Award for American Emerging Designer of the Year. [7] [2] [8] [9]
Hutchens started her career in 1996, she founded Rebecca Taylor, a clothing brand. [10] [11] In January 2011, the Rebecca Taylor brand was acquired by Kellwood Company. [12] She remained with the company as CEO until December 2014 and announced that she was starting a new venture. [13] [14]
She co-founded the fine jewelry brand, Foundrae, with her husband, Murat Bugdaycay, in January 2015. [15] [16] [17] [18] The collection debuted with a trunk show at Barney's September 2015 and then proceeded with an official launch at retail spring/summer 2016. [19] [20] [21] In January 2018, Town & Country recognized her with the distinction of “Breakthrough of the Year” at the Annual Jewelry Awards. [22] Three months later, Hutchens with her husband opened the flagship Foundrae store in New York City. [23] [24] [25]
In March 2019, Hutchens was nominated as “Emerging Designer of the Year” by the CFDA as the single accessory designer. [26] Six months later, Jewelers of America announced Foundrae as a GEM Award nominee for the category of Retail Excellence. [27] [28] [29] [30] Winners will be announced January 2020. In the same months, Hutchens was named as a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, CFDA. [31] [32]
Murat Bugdaycay exited the company in 2023.
She is a supporter of PEN America, founded in 1922, a nonprofit organization that works to defend and celebrate free expression in the United States and worldwide through the advancement of literature and human rights. [33] In March 2019, Foundrae collaborated with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on the design of a medallion that celebrated Freedom of Expression with 100% of all retail proceeds benefiting PEN America.