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Tiffany & Co., CDFA Announce Design Award Finalists
Ten chosen designers will receive mentorship and participate in a design contest for the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award.
The ten finalists, pictured above, will compete for the inaugural Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award, which includes $50,000 and a one-year paid fellowship on the Tiffany & Co. design team. (Photo courtesy of CFDA website)
New York—Tiffany & Co. and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have announced the 10 finalists of the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award.
The award, announced this summer, is the first of its kind from the collaborators.
It was designed, they said, to recognize outstanding American jewelry designers who are committed to driving inclusivity within the design industry. Applications were accepted through August.
The finalists are Symoné Currie (Metal x Wire), Ian Delucca, Marvin Douglas Linares, Angie Marei (Marei New York), Malyia McNaughton (Made by Malyia); Jameel Mohammed (Khiry), David Perry, Maggi Simpkins, Hi Vu, and Pamela Zamore.
Several of the designers have participated in other inclusivity-focused programs over the last few years.
McNaughton, who is the current president of the Black in Jewelry Coalition, as well as Linares and Mohammed were selected for the inaugural Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative (EDDI) in 2021.
The program was created by Lorraine Schwartz and the Natural Diamond Council to create equity for minority jewelry designers.
Currie was selected for EDDI’s Class of 2023.
Simpkins was one of 13 BIPOC individuals who were selected for the Couture show’s Diversity Action Council’s inaugural mentorship program in 2022. The group debuted a capsule collection under the collective name The Radiance by Couture at the summer trade show.
She was also featured in Sotheby's Black and Brilliant exhibition.
Related stories will be right here …
The award, announced this summer, is the first of its kind from the collaborators.
It was designed, they said, to recognize outstanding American jewelry designers who are committed to driving inclusivity within the design industry. Applications were accepted through August.
The finalists are Symoné Currie (Metal x Wire), Ian Delucca, Marvin Douglas Linares, Angie Marei (Marei New York), Malyia McNaughton (Made by Malyia); Jameel Mohammed (Khiry), David Perry, Maggi Simpkins, Hi Vu, and Pamela Zamore.
Several of the designers have participated in other inclusivity-focused programs over the last few years.
McNaughton, who is the current president of the Black in Jewelry Coalition, as well as Linares and Mohammed were selected for the inaugural Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative (EDDI) in 2021.
The program was created by Lorraine Schwartz and the Natural Diamond Council to create equity for minority jewelry designers.
Currie was selected for EDDI’s Class of 2023.
Simpkins was one of 13 BIPOC individuals who were selected for the Couture show’s Diversity Action Council’s inaugural mentorship program in 2022. The group debuted a capsule collection under the collective name The Radiance by Couture at the summer trade show.
She was also featured in Sotheby's Black and Brilliant exhibition.
Designers were 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 other skills, CFDA said previously.
They first gathered as a group in New York City in early October for the program’s kick off.
The three-day orientation included breakfasts, lecture series, and tours of Tiffany Landmark and the company’s jewelry design and innovation workshop.
They were also briefed on the design challenge—to create a five-piece capsule collection that pays tribute to Tiffany’s heritage while reflecting contemporary design principles.
Between now and the final showcase in January 2025, the participants will work on their designs while also receiving feedback during monthly mentoring meetings with the Tiffany & Co. design team, which will take place in a hybrid format.
According to the CFDA website, the program 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.
At the showcase, the designs will be evaluated by a selection committee that includes Tiffany & Co.’s Chief Artistic Officer Nathalie Verdeille, as well as notable names such as actress Gabrielle Union, Sotheby’s Vice Chairman for Jewelry Frank Everett, and designer Jason Wu.
Tiffany & Co. and the CFDA announce the winner of the Jewelry Designer Award in January.
The winner will receive $50,000 and a one-year paid fellowship on the Tiffany & Co. design team beginning in February 2025.
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