In November of 2005, native New Yorker Irini Arakas left her job as a Vogue fashion writer to work full-time on her burgeoning accessories label, PROVA. At that time, PROVA’s debut line of jewelry had just sold out at Barneys for the third time, and numerous stores and magazines were asking Arakas what she was planning for the following season. Today, PROVA is carried in 22 stores worldwide, including Kirna Zabete, Ikram, and Colette; and it has been featured in WWD, Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and T Magazine. The line has also expanded from jewelry into scarves, with the fringed, triangular “Sandinistas” (inspired by Clash frontman Joe Strummer), proving particularly popular: they have been seen in the front row of various fashion shows, and have been worn by the First Lady everywhere from Hawaii to Paris. Prova scarves are all hand-sewn in New York City’s garment district. Arakas was also the 2009 winner of the prestigious Ecco Domani award for Accessory Design. Previous winners include Justin Giunta for Subversive and Monique Pean.

Irini Mia Arakas is a native New Yorker, and lives in Brooklyn. She worked at Vogue Magazine as a fashion writer and editor for seven years. In May 2005, she started designing jewelry. By June, Irini’s collection was selling out at Barneys and Kirna Zabete in New York and Ikram in Chicago.

Prova jewelry is currently sold in over 15 stores worldwide, including Four Seasons Hawaii, Blue Tree and Kirna Zabete in NYC, and Ikram in Chicago.

The Fall of 2008 marked the launch of the Prova scarf collection, a line of "Sandinista" scarves and "Skinny" fringed scarves, all hand crafted from the finest Italian silks and beaded glass fringe. The Sandinista scarves are triangular in shape and were inspired by Clash front man and Punk icon, Joe Strummer. They are all hand-sewn in New York City and sold in over 20 stores worldwide, including Net-A-Porter.com, Colette, and Harvey Nichols Dubai.

Prova has a sizeable celebrity following. Celebrities that have bought Prova include Kate Hudson, Keith Richards, Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, Bette Midler, Cameron Diaz, Naomi Watts, Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry and Jessica Seinfeld. Michelle Obama is also a Prova customer and has bought jewelry and scarves from the Ikram Boutique in Chicago. 

Prova has been featured in WWD, Daily Candy, T magazine, Marie Claire, The New York Times, Lucky, Elle and in American, Greek, British and Japanese Vogues.

Prova jewelry and scarves are all hand-made in New York City’s garment district. Arakas was also the 2009 winner of the prestigious Ecco Domani award for Accessory Design. Previous winners include Justin Giunta for Subversive and Monique Pean. This Spring will launch Prova’s first capsule collection of silk printed dresses.