Miansai commemorates ten year anniversary with penny necklaces

In honor of the brand's ten year anniversary, Miansai is building their "new nostalgia" category by creating customized Penny Rolling machines for each of their stores with location specific memorabilia.

Miansai founder Michael Saiger, who originally developed the concept of the brand around nostalgia with the signature hook, anchor, and rope details inspired by summer camp, decided to do these Penny Rolling necklaces because he felt it was true to the roots of the brand.

"It's very nostalgic when you're a kid and traveling to a beach or park, there's always a penny roller machine," Saiger said in a statement. "It’s kind of one of those things I had my whole entire life, and I always enjoyed doing, and a lot of people identify with. It reminds a lot of people of their childhoods."

Although Miansai is best known for their anchor bracelets, necklaces have been a big under the radar category for them. According to Saiger, the category has grown tremendously for the company, and he's been doing a big push into necklaces. More department stores have also begun carrying their necklaces in addition to their bracelets.

Miansai expands necklace category with Penny Rolling necklaces

For the rollout of the collection and the Penny Rolling machines, Saiger is starting in his hometown of New York City. Some of the first styles feature a slice of pizza saying "In Carbs We Trust" (very New York), a manhole lid that says N.Y.C. sewer, and a Biggie Smalls quote with a crown, "It Was All a Dream", from his hit song "Juicy."

"I wanted to do something any New Yorker and tourist would wear, something subtle and understated" Saiger said. "Anyone can identify with that and be like that’s so cool. The pizza is so New York. It ties back to trends. Our Biggie necklace that says is 'It Was All a Dream”, what’s more New York than that?"

Currently, the collection is only available at Miansai's own retail channels including brick-and-mortar and online, but in the coming weeks it will rollout to their retail partners including Barneys New York, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and specialty store partners. There are also exclusive collaborations in the works with Club Monaco, which is a Miansai retail partner already, and Public Hotels, which is celebrating their one year anniversary and carries Miansai products in their gift shop.

After installing the Penny Rolling machine in their New York store, the brand plans to install one in their Los Angeles store next. On the horizon, they also have London, Paris, and Hong Kong planned for rollouts.

Each Penny Rolling machine is custom made so they would align with the specific design aesthetics of each store. The goal was to have them look both old school, but modern at the same time.

This week, Saiger will be presenting that at market week in Paris, and there's already demand for retailers who want to see them.

Price points for the collection range from 95 dollars to 125 dollars. Customers can visit their retail locations and hand roll their own designs, or order them online.

photos: courtesy of Purple PR