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Tiffany & Co., CFDA Announce New Jewelry Designer Award
One designer will win $50,000 and a fellowship with the jewelry company.
Beginning this October, selected applicants will participate in a multi-week mentorship program with Tiffany & Co.’s design team, a program that will culminate in a jewelry design challenge. The winner of the challenge will receive the inaugural “Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award.”
New York—Tiffany & Co. and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have partnered to establish the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award.
Starting in October, selected applicants will take part in a multi-week mentorship and immersive learning experience at Tiffany & Co.
According to the CFDA website, the program will be hybrid.
It will take place in person in New York City from Oct. 8-10, virtually the weeks of Oct. 21, Nov. 11, and Dec. 2, and in person again on Jan. 14 and 15.
During the program, participants will be briefed on the design challenge, which will be led by Tiffany & Co.’s design team.
A selection committee will then evaluate the design challenge results and choose the winner of the first Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award.
They will receive $50,000 and a yearlong paid fellowship with Tiffany & Co.’s design department, beginning February 2025.
The 2024 selection committee is comprised of:
Alexandre Arnault, executive vice president of product, communications, and industrial at Tiffany & Co;
Bethann Hardison, board member and activist at CFDA;
Frank Everett, vice chairman of jewelry at Sotheby’s;
Gabrielle Union, an actress;
Jahleel Weaver, a creative director and stylist;
Jason Wu, founder and chief creative officer of Jason Wu Studio, and a CFDA member;
Joan Smalls, a supermodel and actress;
Nathalie Verdeille, chief artistic officer of jewelry and high jewelry at Tiffany & Co.;
and Rajni Jacques, global head of fashion and beauty at Snap Inc.
Related stories will be right here …
Starting in October, selected applicants will take part in a multi-week mentorship and immersive learning experience at Tiffany & Co.
According to the CFDA website, the program will be hybrid.
It will take place in person in New York City from Oct. 8-10, virtually the weeks of Oct. 21, Nov. 11, and Dec. 2, and in person again on Jan. 14 and 15.
During the program, participants will be briefed on the design challenge, which will be led by Tiffany & Co.’s design team.
A selection committee will then evaluate the design challenge results and choose the winner of the first Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award.
They will receive $50,000 and a yearlong paid fellowship with Tiffany & Co.’s design department, beginning February 2025.
The 2024 selection committee is comprised of:
Alexandre Arnault, executive vice president of product, communications, and industrial at Tiffany & Co;
Bethann Hardison, board member and activist at CFDA;
Frank Everett, vice chairman of jewelry at Sotheby’s;
Gabrielle Union, an actress;
Jahleel Weaver, a creative director and stylist;
Jason Wu, founder and chief creative officer of Jason Wu Studio, and a CFDA member;
Joan Smalls, a supermodel and actress;
Nathalie Verdeille, chief artistic officer of jewelry and high jewelry at Tiffany & Co.;
and Rajni Jacques, global head of fashion and beauty at Snap Inc.
The award was created to recognize jewelry designers who are committed to driving inclusivity within the design industry, said the organizations, elevating jewelry design as its own category akin to womenswear.
“This first-ever award with a sole focus on jewelry is a testament to CFDA’s longstanding commitment and mission to celebrate American creative excellence,” said Steven Kolb, CEO of CFDA.
“Through the CFDA Impact program, we are thrilled to partner with Tiffany & Co., a cornerstone house with an iconic heritage, and Tiffany Atrium to identify and cultivate an inclusive next generation of American jewelry designers.”
This award was developed by the council’s CFDA Impact program and Tiffany Atrium, the jewelry company’s social impact program.
Respectively, these branches of Tiffany & Co. and CFDA work to create more access and opportunity in the jewelry space, and equitable and sustainable change in representation of diverse creatives.
“The inaugural Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award uplifts Tiffany Atrium’s commitment to fostering lasting change across the jewelry and design industries,” said Arnault, of Tiffany & Co.
“With a rich history of supporting inclusivity and creative excellence, Tiffany & Co. continues to be a champion for creative expression and social impact.”
The application process for the 2024 program opened Monday, July 29, and closes Aug. 16.
Applicants will be chosen based on years of proven design experience, concept sketching, experience with digital and hand rendering, 3D CAD design and printing, ability to design concepts and collections through couture designs and gifts, and other skills, said CFDA.
The program’s participants will be announced this fall, with the award recipient announced in early 2025.
For more information on the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award and to apply to the program, visit CFDA’s website.
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