Black Creators and Designers in the Jewelry Industry

In February we annually celebrate Black History Month to honor the culture and countless achievements African Americans have contributed to U.S history. These contributions range from education, to agriculture,music, sports, etc. Read along to read about some of the Black creators and designers that have paved the way in the fine jewelry industry! Black Contribution To Jewelry The first black jeweler designer dates back to mid-20th century, named Arthur Smith. He was known for his clear creative talent and received a scholarship to Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. After graduating in 1940, he enrolled at NYU’s jewelry-making class to learn the basics of making jewelry. He began developing his skills after meeting Winifred Manson. Smith then began applying the techniques he learned to his own jewelry creations. After opening his shop in Greenwhich Village, his career truly propelled when he opened his second shop on 140 West Fourth Street. This move allowed his market to grow because his products were being exposed to very high-end clients. He even formed business relationships with Bloomingdale’s and other large stores in the United States. Additionally, his work was covered in Vogue, Harper’s Bazzar, and he was mentioned in the New Yorker. Smith’s work has been worn by many upper class people. He has been known for making cufflinks for Duke Ellington. The aforementioned accomplishments are not the extent of his success. He was honored with an exhibition at the New York’s Museum of Art and Design in the year 1969. Unfortunately he passed away in 1982 to heart failure. Black Contribution To Fashion Ann Lowe was one of the first renown black fashion designers of her time. From the 20s to the 60s, her designs were worn by high society women. She designed one of the most popular wedding dresses: the taffeta ivory silk bridal gown that was worn by Jacqueline Bouvier when she married John F. Kennedy in 1953. However, due to her skin color she never received the credit for her designs from the public nor the First Lady. Later, Lowe opened her store in 1968 named Anne Lowes Originals, on Madison Avenue. To this day, her work is shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Black Creators In Jewelry Many amazing black creators use jewelry as another way to express themselves creatively. Below are some of the amazing black creators and the jewelry they have showcased. Jameel Mohammed is the brilliant mind behind the Khiry brand that specializes in bold yet sleek jewelry. Sade Mim's brand Edas consists of jewelry and accessories that are sustainable as well as beautiful statement pieces. Morgan Thomas ( seen in image to left) is the owner of Yam, which is a jewelry brand that features fun and playful pieces. The three talented individuals mentioned above are just a few of the many black jewelry creators in the industry. If you want to learn more about them and other artists alike check out the Vogue post where we derived our inspiration. https://www.vogue.com/article/black-jewelry-designers-to-support-now-and-always Being black in America is a constant struggle that still requires a lot of change. However, Black History Month is meant to honor and celebrate the many African Americans who have contributed to our beautiful country. It is important to recognize and give credit EVERY time it is due. Doing this, we can undoubtedly unite as a country and industry and be the unit we deserve to be and truly are.