Alexis Bittar Merges True Crime and High Fashion In His AW26 Jewelry Collection
Presented during New York Fashion Week, there is a deeper meaning on how the rich and powerful seem to always get away with the sinister…
New York City based self-taught jewelry designer Alexis Bittar unveiled the brand’s fall-winter 2026 accessories collection during New York Fashion Week, through a crime scene-like whodunit presentation and live performance.
At the heart of the collection is Bittar shedding light on society’s obsession with true crime, while pointing out society’s broken systems, particularly on how powerful, high profile, and high net worth men seem to be immune to retribution and justice. Because fashion is an industry that revolves around polish and perfection, Bittar stands at the intersection of the volatility of art, fashion, and social commentary.
The collection behind glass cases like a crime scene | Photo Credit: Breanna Johnson, BFA
Photo Credit: Breanna Johnson, BFA
As visitors arrived, the collection was laid out in the evidence viewing room, in glass cases with evidence markers placed beside pieces. Handcrafted statement necklaces, sculptural earrings, signatures stacked bangles, and jewel-laden handbags are displayed. Pieces are artistic, yet fall in line with the AW26 trend of functionality. Surrealist zip collars and 14k gold-plated coils wrap around leather clutches. Brutalist spirals shape the brand’s aesthetic. The brand’s signature element of liquid lucite is paired with molten gold and high-shine rhodium finishes.
Visitors watching the true crime live performance | Photo Credit: Breanna Johnson, BFA
The live performance made visitors feel like they were stepping into a Midtown New York City hotel room from the 90s. From the evidence room to an eerie theater, visitors watched a reenactment from a true crime documentary titled, “The Sexecutions of Amanda Gates.” To tell this story Bittar worked with choreographer Celia Rowlson Hall, and Klimovski who directed the production. “I’m more interested in building worlds people can escape into,” says Bittar. “Worlds filled with complex characters, diversity, and uncomfortable truths—where jewelry isn’t the point, but the punctuation.”
The collection and what Bittar represents is a reminder of human tenacity. From being a self-taught designer, who took his business from Brooklyn, to it being a global brand that fuses art and fashion with ad campaigns, is no small feat. His three decades of skill landed him to dressing Michelle Obama, Iris Apfel, FKA Twigs, Tyla, Madonna, Cher, Dua Lipa, and so many more notable woman. In 2015 he sold the business to raise his twins, then in 2021 re-acquired it from Brooks Brothers and launched a line of handbags, as well as freestanding boutiques in New York.
Each piece is masterfully crafted, desirable, and made to be worn, collected, and re-worn season after season.
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