19-10-2021
The inaugural group of designers of the Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative (EDDI), created under the partnership between the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) and the United States jewellery designer Lorraine Schwartz, debuts their first diamond jewellery collections.
The one-year program aspires to remove barriers to entry and provide opportunities to as many Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) talents as possible through a US$ 1 million mentorship. Participating designers received up to US$20,000 diamond credit as well as production, marketing, finance, legal, HR and supply chain resources.
“The diamond industry can be an extremely difficult industry to break into as an emerging designer because it is a tight-knit, generational business that is passed down through family members and close friends. It’s even more challenging for Black and other BIPOC community members that aspire to work as diamond dealers and fine jewellers because they don’t have those established generational industry relationships,” said Lorraine Schwartz.
The six chosen ones are: Constance Polamalu of Birthright Foundry, Dorian Webb, Jameel Mohammed of Khiry, Lisette Scott of Jam + Rico, Malyia McNaughton of Made by Malyia and Marvin Linares of Marvin Douglas Jewelry. The collection is available for sale on Moda Operandi.
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