A quirky contest inspires designers to re-imagine an unglamorous deli cup as a coveted piece of jewelry.

New York City has no shortage of icons. There’s the Statue of Liberty, of course, and the yellow taxicab, the Empire State Building and Times Square. One symbol that rarely gets its due, however, is the blue-and-white Greek paper coffee cup — the one emblazoned with the words “We Are Happy to Serve You” — used by diners and coffee vendors across the five boroughs. A number of enterprising designers who exhibit at the Couture show have done much to change that. In the NY Couture Jewelry Designer Challenge, held earlier this year at the JA New York show, they were asked to transform the instantly recognizable cup into a unique piece of wearable jewelry. They responded with a wealth of unconventional styles that were voted on by the Couture community and displayed at the show, thereby elevating an unglamorous deli cup to its rightful place among the Big Apple’s more celebrated trademarks. Chad Allison designed the winning piece, a diamond and sapphire pendant incorporating the cup’s distinctive Greek border motif into a subtle tribute to a vintage only-in-New-York aesthetic. The other jewels also reflected just a hint of coffee inspiration. One clever designer, however, took the mandate rather literally. “Use this and you don’t burn your fingers with the hot coffee,” said runner-up Heather Moore of her gold coffee cup holder that transforms into a bangle and armband. “When you’re done with your drink, put your cup in the recycling bin, slip the pieces on your wrist and you’re stylin’ for the day!”

Chad Allison’s winning pendant features diamonds and blue sapphires in 18-karat white gold. Heather Moore’s coffee cup holder/bangle is without doubt, the contest’s most clever submission.