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In order to create the largest
pearl necklace in the world,
Yvel designers, Orna and
“I could express myself, Isaac Levy managed to
collect 13 rare and unique
my feelings, my emotions, Australian and Indonesian
saltwater pearls, measuring
through the jewelry”. from 19mm to 33mm.

Isaac Levy

But for Orna and Isaac, the dream was still
being dreamt. They envisioned a 50,000 sqf,
state-of-the-art campus with cutting-edge
jewelry workshops, elegant showrooms,
The retailer sat examining the unusual jewelry that office in the center of Jerusalem. Never forgetting beautiful gardens, and an inspirational
the young couple had set in front of him. Not used to his own immigrant background, Isaac would always visitor center. In 2010 this dream was
dealing with young people unknown to the industry, stand firm to his principle of offering employment to realized with the completion of the Yvel
he was at first somewhat skeptical. But as he looked Jewish immigrants. So whenever employing new staff, Design Center in Motza. From its humble
down at their jewelry, and then up at their faces, he he would always look first amongst Israel’s immigrant beginnings at a kitchen table, Yvel now
was taken aback by their talent and fervor. “I’ll take population. occupied a magnificent new design center
these three necklaces for now,” he said, and at first Over the years the company has grown considerably where it could continue to grow and flourish.
the young couple was not sure if they had heard him with more than a hundred employees, most of who
correctly. Many years later Isaac recalled, “When we are Jewish immigrants from around twenty different Having for the first time, enough space,
walked out from there, we were so overcome with countries. More than once, people have joked that Orna and Isaac decided to open a school
emotion after making a nine hundred and ninety working at Yvel seems like an excellent precursor to to teach Ethiopian immigrants the art of the school and the social enterprise will
dollar sale, that we were hugging and kissing each finding employment at the United Nations. jewelry making. In 2011 the doors of the soon become fully sustainable and will
other on the path in front of the store. “I was jumping Megemeria School of Jewelry & Art were continue to change the lives of many
up and down in the street with joy,” added Orna, In 2005, already a well-known brand, Yvel received opened and twenty-two Ethiopian students more Ethiopian immigrants.
“Then we took the money and went off for a holiday their first International award at the Town & Country joined the new program. Impressed with
in Eilat!” Couture Design Awards. This honor, equivalent to the highly original jewelry that the students Today, after building a beautiful family,
the ‘Oscars’ in the jewelry world, was repeated in made during the course, Orna and Isaac a world-renowned jewelry brand, and a
That was really the beginning of what was to become 2006 and 2007. Next came a long string of awards established the Megemeria Social Enterprise non-profit school and social enterprise,
an award-winning luxury jewelry brand. It was the at the Centurion Design Show where Yvel won four as a platform for the students to market Orna and Isaac still sit at their kitchen
beginning of Yvel. From then onwards the company consecutive years from 2011 – 2014. In 2017 Yvel was their jewelry, thus securing continuous table and dream. But as we have seen
began to grow. Still working from a kitchen table, the honored once again with the Couture Design Award employment. This endeavor is proving to already, when Orna and Isaac dream,
couple employed a third person who would work out – Best in Pearls. be successful, it is the intention that both their dreams are most likely to come true.
on the balcony. After several successful years, they
needed a larger workplace and re-located to a small

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