2019 was a big year for Rachel Bates, filled with exciting product launches, a new website for our growing brand and exciting opportunities. With so much going on, it's been hard to keep up. So, I've taken time to sit down and reflect upon the successes of last year and take a look at what's in store for Rachel Bates throughout 2020.

A new home for the evolving Rachel Bates brand

For me, 2019 was a year of significant transformation, and as I began the year growing and cultivating the Rachel Bates brand, it became apparent we needed a new home. So, in April, we gave our website a complete makeover to reflect the change from interior design to an online boutique.

The new home of Rachel Bates was transformed to share all the joyful luxuries I have been creating and collecting with you. From captivating crystalware to gorgeous pieces of jewellery, the website was designed to ensure those who share my passion for luxury find something exceptional.

Whether you're looking to spoil yourself or searching for a unique gift for a loved one, every piece has been hand-picked to give others the feeling I get when falling in love with something new. Our new website helps our customers find joy in life's luxuries, as I have been doing all my life.

To find out more about how we evolved the Rachel Bates brand and launched our new home of joyful luxuries, take a look at the original announcement.

Trans-Atlantic partnerships with CINER

Ever since I started working with skilled artisans to create my signature designs, I've always dreamt of creating my own jewellery range. So, one of the most exciting moments for me last year was launching two collections in partnership with New York-based fine jewellers CINER.

This partnership allowed me to fly out to their Manhattan atelier and delve into their 127-year archive to create some extraordinary pieces of jewellery. My time with CINER led to the creation of two different collections, Maltese Cross and Corali

The Maltese Cross collection

I've always had a love of the Maltese Cross, it's symbolism and usage in art, architecture and fashion. So, when it came to creating a jewellery collection, I decided to combine gorgeous Byzantine-style designs with the bold colours I've become known for.

The result is The Maltese Cross collection, a modern twist on a historical collection to create something truly timeless. You can find out more about the journey, which led to these pieces, through my blog.

[Buy buttons for Maltese Cross products]

The Corali collection

Anyone who's met me knows my passion for bold colours and through my work with CINER, I combined this with my love for gorgeous coral reefs around the world.

Celebrating the diverse ecosystems which exist under the sea, the Corali Collection features 8 different edits including Jewels of the Ocean, Icy Sea and Turquoise Waters. Each one is dedicated to a different part of the world and comes with its own story.

The truly timeless collections feature with brooches, earrings and necklaces all designed to complement each other so you can mix-and-match between the edits. For more insights into the story behind the Corali Collection, take a look at our blog.

[Buy buttons for Corali collection]

Appearing in Financial Times How to Spend it

Back in 2016, I made my first appearance in the Financial Time's luxury lifestyle magazine, How to Spend it. Shortly after I relaunched the home of joyful luxuries, FT featured my Bottle Green Isadora Champagne Saucer.

The perfect gift for a lady who loves champagne, the design is based on classic Georgian-style champagne glasses and combined with a modern twist. My signature Lace Cap Hydrangea design is etched around the top and base of the crystal which was handcrafted by Czech artisans.

This piece of crystalware also comes in a variety of bold, gorgeous colours including Ruby Red, Azure Blue and Flamingo Pink.

[Set of 4 buy buttons for each colour mentioned]

Making a statement at Paris Fashion Week's Premiere Classe

During Paris Fashion Week 2019, I had the exciting opportunity to showcase the Rachel Bates x CINER SS20 Corali Jewellery collection. Featuring in Premier Classe, the accessories exhibition set in the beautiful Tuileries Garden, the team and I had the opportunity to present the gorgeous collaboration pieces to global buyers from around the world.

The experience was exhilarating, and the collection was enthusiastically met by everyone who stopped by. As a result, we received orders from boutique stores across Europe and the US, so keep your eyes open, and you may see a special piece of Corali jewellery in a shop near you.

[Buy buttons for Corali collection]

What's next for Rachel Bates?

Last year was an exciting time of growth and change for Rachel Bates. In 2020 myself and the Rachel Bates team have no intentions of slowing down and have plenty of exciting plans in store for you.

Relaunching the Rachel Bates Botanical Candle

During the 2018 Christmas period, I saw a massive demand for my gorgeous botanical candle. In fact, demand was so high we had completely sold out by the end of December. We've always

planned to bring it back for our customers, but as with everything I create, it must be even more luxurious than the last.

So, I've spent the last year working on designs to ensure it as loved by you as it is by me. The wax is handmade and poured by the Ormonde Jayne Perfumery and will feature the delicious botanical fragrance which made the last set so popular.

While there is no confirmed release day yet, we'll be announcing it by email, so make you're signed up using the form below or else you might miss out.

The Rachel Bates Lifestyle Book

In 2020, I'm excited to start work on my first lifestyle book. Combining my passion for gorgeous bold colours, delicious recipes and interior design tips and tricks, it will feature pages filled with luxurious inspiration.

Unfortunately, as this is still a work in progress, I must keep tight-lipped about it. But, if you are interested, make sure you sign up to my emails below where I'll be able to share any news as soon as I can.