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Couture’s ‘The Iridescence’ Will Showcase 7 Emerging Jewelry Designers
The designers are the third cohort of mentees from the show’s Belonging @ Couture mentorship program.
These seven emerging jewelry designers will showcase their work at the 2026 Couture show as part of “The Iridescence” collective. They are, from left, Jessica Liu of Jessica Liu Designs, Aziza-Abdullah Nicole from Aziza, Marie Helena from Rebel Jewelry, Cindy Liebel of Cindy Liebel Jewelry, Danyell Roscoe of dan-yell, Xiao Wang of Xiao Wang Jewelry, and Julia de Souza of Sanct Desiderata.
New York—There’s always a lot of new jewelry to see at Couture, and this year will be no different, from the Design Atelier to the seven jewelry designers to emerge from the show’s mentorship program, Belonging @ Couture.
The group, collectively called “The Iridescence by Couture,” will be exhibiting in the Cristal ballroom.
Now in its third year, the mentorship program aims to support and amplify underrepresented voices in the jewelry industry.
The third cohort of mentees are: Aziza-Abdullah Nicole from Aziza, Cindy Liebel of Cindy Liebel Jewelry, Danyell Roscoe of dan-yell, Jessica Liu of Jessica Liu Designs, Marie Helena from Rebel Jewelry, Julia de Souza of Sanct Desiderata, and Xiao Wang of Xiao Wang Jewelry.
Learn more about who they are and what inspires them below.
The group, collectively called “The Iridescence by Couture,” will be exhibiting in the Cristal ballroom.
Now in its third year, the mentorship program aims to support and amplify underrepresented voices in the jewelry industry.
The third cohort of mentees are: Aziza-Abdullah Nicole from Aziza, Cindy Liebel of Cindy Liebel Jewelry, Danyell Roscoe of dan-yell, Jessica Liu of Jessica Liu Designs, Marie Helena from Rebel Jewelry, Julia de Souza of Sanct Desiderata, and Xiao Wang of Xiao Wang Jewelry.
Learn more about who they are and what inspires them below.
Aziza-Abdullah Nicole of Aziza is a Brooklyn-based artist, a Maryland native, and a Gemological Institute of America Graduate Gemologist. Her work is inspired by her mother’s jewelry collection, her father’s refined, hippie style, and the free-flowing clothes of the 1970s.
Nicole follows the philosophy of “wabi-sabi,” a Japanese aesthetic that finds beauty in imperfections.
Nicole follows the philosophy of “wabi-sabi,” a Japanese aesthetic that finds beauty in imperfections.
Cindy Liebel of Cindy Liebel Jewelry is a Virginia-based jeweler who takes inspiration from her mother, as well as from Scandinavian, modernist, and Art Deco architecture.
Liebel has more than 25 years of experience in retail and the corporate world, previously holding roles as a legal secretary, business administrator, and marketing assistant. She founded her eponymous jewelry brand in 2010.
Liebel has more than 25 years of experience in retail and the corporate world, previously holding roles as a legal secretary, business administrator, and marketing assistant. She founded her eponymous jewelry brand in 2010.
Danyell Roscoe of dan-yell is a Brooklyn-based jeweler whose jewelry journey began in childhood with her beloved rock collection.
“Softened geometric forms allow me to merge classic, modern, and ancient design elements. I conceive design as a continuum that keeps on going, exploring, and changing over time,” Roscoe states on her website.
“Softened geometric forms allow me to merge classic, modern, and ancient design elements. I conceive design as a continuum that keeps on going, exploring, and changing over time,” Roscoe states on her website.
Jessica Liu of Jessica Liu Designs, based in Southern California, is a self-taught metalsmith who opened her studio in 2021 after leaving her legal career.
Liu’s designs are inspired by “a spirit of exploration, spontaneity, and quiet curiosity,” according to her website.
Each jewel starts as a hand-sculpted form in wax and is created through the lost wax casting process.
Liu’s designs are inspired by “a spirit of exploration, spontaneity, and quiet curiosity,” according to her website.
Each jewel starts as a hand-sculpted form in wax and is created through the lost wax casting process.
Marie Helena from Rebel Jewelry also has a background in law but felt a similar calling to join the jewelry industry.
The Beirut, Lebanon, native moved to the United States in 2019 to continue growing her jewelry brand.
Her pieces are crafted in 18-karat yellow gold with a focus on craftsmanship and symbolism.
The Beirut, Lebanon, native moved to the United States in 2019 to continue growing her jewelry brand.
Her pieces are crafted in 18-karat yellow gold with a focus on craftsmanship and symbolism.
Julia de Souza of Sanct Desiderata founded her jewelry brand in 2012, but her love of the craft goes back to childhood.
In high school, she turned her father’s small storefront in Costa Rica into a jewelry studio and boutique, selling her handmade accessories, as per her website.
Her work is inspired by Surrealism and imbued with metaphysical, mythological, and symbolic meaning.
In high school, she turned her father’s small storefront in Costa Rica into a jewelry studio and boutique, selling her handmade accessories, as per her website.
Her work is inspired by Surrealism and imbued with metaphysical, mythological, and symbolic meaning.
Xiao Wang of Xiao Wang Jewelry is a New York-based jeweler who takes inspiration from manga and pop art, crafting her jewels using recycled gold and colored gemstones.
Wang has a family connection to the jewelry business, as her great-grandfather was in the mining business and her father is a recycled metals dealer.
Related stories will be right here …
Wang has a family connection to the jewelry business, as her great-grandfather was in the mining business and her father is a recycled metals dealer.
“The intention of our Belonging @ Couture program is to amplify the voices of designers who are otherwise underrepresented in our industry, and to provide opportunities for professional development and community building,” said Gannon Brousseau, executive vice president, Emerald.
“Couture is the perfect event for these emerging talents to be able to forge and nurture relationships with retailers, press, and Couture’s long-standing designers, all of whom have warmly embraced our designer mentorship program.”
During the two-year mentorship program, each designer is paired with a mentor for one-on-one consultations. There are also bi-weekly education sessions led by experts in a variety of fields.
The current mentors are: Anne Sportun, Corina Madilian from Single Stone, David Hakimian from DEH Solutions, designer Erica Molinari, Simone Waldron from V!ewpointnext!, Tara Maria Famiglietti from Ondyn, and Tony Goldsberry from Rock House.
Designer Jules Kim of Bijules has been serving as the program’s mentee liaison for the past five years.
Previous cohorts of Belonging @ Couture mentees include “The Radiance by Couture” and “The Luminaries by Couture.”
At the 2025 Couture show, three Belonging @ Couture graduates exhibited in the Design Atelier.
All three were Couture Design Award finalists, with Hiba Husayni from Zahn-Z winning the Best in Debuting award.
The Iridescence by Couture can be found in salon 634 in the Cristal ballroom.
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