Majors

Tiffany & Co., CFDA Name First Winner of Jewelry Designer Award

MajorsJan 17, 2025

Tiffany & Co., CFDA Name First Winner of Jewelry Designer Award

Jameel Mohammed, founder of Afrofuturist brand Khiry, will receive a cash prize and a one-year paid fellowship with Tiffany & Co.

Jameel Mohammed
The winner of the inaugural Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award, Jameel Mohammed, was presented with the award at a cocktail reception celebrating the finalists on Wednesday.
New York—Tiffany & Co. and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have announced the recipient of the inaugural Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award.

Jameel Mohammed, founder and designer of Afrofuturist brand Khiry, is the winner of the award. 

He will receive $50,000 and a one-year paid fellowship with Tiffany & Co.’s design department beginning in February.

Mohammed was honored at a cocktail reception celebrating the award at the retailer’s Fifth Avenue flagship, The Landmark, on Wednesday.

At the event, Stéphanie Oueda-Cruz, global vice president of diversity, equality, inclusion, and belonging at Tiffany & Co., CFDA CEO Steven Kolb, and Andrea Davey, chief marketing officer of Tiffany & Co., presented the award to Mohammed.

 Related stories will be right here … 

The Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award is the first of its kind from the two collaborators, recognizing American jewelry designers who are committed to driving inclusivity within the design industry, they said.

The 10 finalists who were chosen to compete for the award were tasked with a design challenge paying homage to Tiffany & Co.’s illustrious heritage and inventiveness, with a selection committee reviewing the designer’s final collections.

The finalists for the 2024 award were: Mohammed, Symoné Currie of Metal x Wire, Ian Delucca, Marvin Douglas Linares, Angie Marei of Marei New York, Malyia McNaughton of Made by Malyia, David Perry, Maggi Simpkins, Hi Vu, and Pamela Zamore.

Their designs were evaluated by Tiffany & Co.’s chief artistic officer for jewelry and high jewelry Nathalie Verdeille, as well as Bethann Hardison, board member and advocate for CFDA; Frank Everett, vice chairman for jewelry at Sotheby’s; actress Gabrielle Union; designer and stylist Jahleel Weaver; CFDA member and designer Jason Wu; actress and model Joan Smalls; and Rajni Jacques, global head of fashion and beauty of Snap Inc.

From October 2024 to January 2025, the finalists participated in monthly mentoring sessions with Tiffany & Co.’s design team, received tours of The Landmark and the retailer’s jewelry design and innovation workshop, and attended a lecture series focusing on a variety of topics, including visual merchandising, jewelry trends, brand identity, sustainability, and gemstones.

The award is part of both institutions’ social impact platform, Tiffany Atrium and CFDA Impact, reflecting their shared ideas of innovation and commitment to excellence with the world of design, they said. 

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