Tiffany & Co. and the CFDA launch inaugural jewelry award with focus on diverse designers

Tiffany & Co. and the CFDA kicked the year of events off with a new, upbeat initiative that proves joining forces is a good thing.

In its inaugural edition, the Tiffany & Co. X CFDA jewelry designer awards bring the storied American luxury houses’ social impact platform Atrium and the CFDA’s Impact program to lift a diverse group of jewelers who face even more obstacles when launching a business that requires ample funds and strong connections such as the jewelry business. Narrowed down from a group of ten designers, the winner, Jameel Mohammed of Khiry, took home the top prize in an intimate, convivial ceremony at The Landmark, Tiffany’s iconic Fifth Avenue flagship.

To present Mohammed with the award, the moment was kicked off with remarks from Tiffany & Co. CMO Andrea Davey, who expressed Tiffany’s shared value with the CFDA of supporting emerging jewelers, creativity, and craftsmanship. According to Davey, the program involved months of participants receiving coaching, and the winner would receive $50,000 and a 12-month Fellowship TK with Tiffany & Co.
 
Kolb, who spoke to FashionNetwork.com before addressing the room, explained the impetus for the new awards ceremony: “Jewelry is an important category and continues to perform well. We have many programs to support clothing designers, but you don’t see that same level of prize money and mentorship for jewelry. Tiffany has their Atrium program that addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion, and our CFDA program like that is Impact. It’s even more of a challenge for these jewelers to succeed,” Kolb said, adding, “Pairing up with Tiffany that has the heritage and knowledge allows participants to experience workshops, attend meetings, and access Tiffany resources for several months.”
 
The process culminated with participants showing the results of their endeavors on their creations to panel of judges, including Hardison, Everett, Verdeille, Smalls, and creative director and stylist Jahleel Weaver, formerly of Fenty, and also in attendance.

When queried, Kolb didn’t rule out adding a jewelry category to the larger CFDA Awards. “We’ve discussed it, but then ask if we must divide up all accessories. I think folks don’t want the evening to be longer,” he quipped.
 
Onstage, Kolb addressed the California wildfires, acknowledging that they affected CFDA members, others in the industry, and friends and family of many New Yorkers, and brought attention to the CFDA’s relief initiative before introducing Stéphanie Oueda-Cruz, Tiffany & Co.’s global vice president of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, who announced the winner.
 
On the stage, Mohammed’s joyful excitement and laughter were infectious, and the industry clearly loves him. Retaining some composure to say thank you, Mohammed told the crowd, “I’ve long believed in the power of Tiffany as an American luxury brand. I’m an American luxury designer, so I am really excited to be where I belong.” His collection, which resulted from the program, was on display and featured highly developed interpretations of some brand signatures such as curvy criss-cross designs and exaggerated ball chain spheres as flowers.
 
The other participants in the program include Angie Marei, David Perry, Ian Delucca, Hi Vu, Maggi Simpkins, Malyia McNaughton, Marvin Linares, Pamela Zamore, and Symoné Currie, who pointed out the camaraderie of the group, and one said: “If one of us wins, we all win.”

 
The atmosphere was so friendly in part of the plethora of jewelry designer members in attendance, such as Monica Rich Kosann, Coomi Khanna Bhasin, and Stephen Dweck, who were there with fashion and accessories designers Francisco Costa, Jason Wu, Maria Cornejo, Gigi Burris, Bach Mai, Jonathan Cohen along with legendary fashion DEI advocate and CFDA board member, Bethann Hardison.

They were joined by Nathalie Verdeille, chief artistic officer, jewelry and high jewelry, Tiffany & Co.; Sotheby’s jewelry vice chairman Frank Everett; model Joan Smalls; and Peter Marino, who designed a large portion of the flagship store.