15 Black Jewelry Designers To Support Now and Always

Randi Molofsky, cofounder of For Future Reference, the fine jewelry brand development agency in New York and Los Angeles, knows that the barrier to entry in the industry is high: "BIPOC designers are historically underrepresented in the fine jewelry industry Accessibility is the first step in making meaningful change: specifically education, ongoing mentorship initiatives, and financial assistance." Take the story of Arthur George "Art" Smith, the legendary midcentury Black jewelry designer, as an example Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds stacked against his success, he tapped into a network of mentors early on, including fellow Black jewelry designer, Winifred Mason.

The endowment, which was spearheaded by For Future Reference and jewelry designer Brent Neale and supported by 48 additional fine jewelry industry brands, establishes $50,000 worth of scholarships for Black students within the school's Jewelry Design program Large-scale initiatives such as the Art Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund are one way to amplify Black voices in the jewelry industry, but shoppers can also take direct, immediate action by buying from Black-owned brands Below, find 15 Black-owned and -designed jewelry brands to know, love, and shop from now.

Bianca Abreu's love of optics and light is apparent in the jewelry she designs for Aur Jewelry Self-taught designer Matthew Harris founded Mateo in 2009 with an initial focus on men's jewelry; however, a women's capsule collection proved so successful that Harris decided to refocus Mateo toward women's jewelry. . Source