5 BIPOC-Owned Jewelry Brands I Love
As we are all ready to spoil our loved ones this holiday, I am keen on encouraging the discovery of more BIPOC (Black, Indigenous + People of Color)-Owned brands. Today, we focus on jewelry!✨
Below I’ve spotlighted 5 jewelry brands founded by amazingly talented people of color.
Let’s put our money where our values are this holiday season.
1. Johnny Nelson Jewelry
I initially came across this brand as I was looking for jewelry to style a photo shoot where the theme was rooted in amplifying the Black voice and experience. I was in awe. Johnny Nelson’s jewelry speaks to exactly that. The inspiration behind his creations come from his diverse artistic and cultural experiences that merge punk, hip-hop, and spirituality. Some of the coolest jewelry concepts I’ve seen in a while. Based in NYC.
Nelson learned to craft jewelry after his mother and has since blown up - featured in major publications like Vogue, Forbes, Paper and supported by some of our celebrity favs like Beyonce, Kerby Jean-Raymond, Lil Nas X and more.
2. Latasha Lamar
One of the main things I love about Latasha Lamar’s jewelry line is her dedication to focusing on incorporating sustainability into her design. Lamar uses ethically sourced gemstones, recycled sterling silver, 10k and 14k gold. She uses the elements of nature to inspire her fine jewelry creations.
Not only does Lamar hand-create beautiful and ethical pieces, she also teaches local youth how to do the same. Once a month she offers an exclusive, hands-on learning experience from her jewelry studio - located in Brooklyn, NY, free of charge. The humility in Lamar’s work reflects from this aspect, down to the very details in her designs. Definitely brings you back to Earth.
3. KHIRY
I met the founder of this brand, Jameel Mohammed, on the rooftop of IMG a few years ago and his spirit was so radiant. I later found out more about his brand KHIRY and learned his aim was to channel the beauty, art, heritage and culture of the African diaspora into modern, luxurious vermeil jewelry, with the ultimate goal of establishing a complete fashion house. His designs are elevated, polished and sculptural. I’ve been a fan ever since.
One part of Mohammed’s story that stood out to me was his founding the brand after the CEO of a preeminent luxury goods company told him that “true” luxury brands could only emerge from Paris and Milan. KHIRY thrives based in the U.S., gaining attention and features everywhere from Vogue to O Magazine; seen on Solange, Issa Rae, Selena Gomez, the list goes on.
4. Angely Martinez Jewelry
So proud of the progress I’ve seen from Miss Martinez. This year alone, she has created 3 new collections. Originally from Dominican Republic, Martinez now lives and works from a studio in NYC where her inspirations remain the same as always: combining the beauties of nature with the world of fantasy. Her work is both romantic and avant garde.
Martinez’s debut collection is what initially caught my eye. Titled Vermillion, this collection is influenced by raw nature and the emotional color of red. The boldness of her work, so early on (she was graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology's Jewelry Design Program at the time) has had me glued to her progress, always excited to see what she’ll come up with next. Most recently Martinez spearheaded the BIPOC Open Letter along with 30+ jewelers, detailing guidelines for opportunities to be created for more BIPOC Jewelers and Professionals.
5. KLG Jewellery
Stumbling across KLG was a lucky mistake. Since seeing her work and mission, I have followed Kassandra Gordon’s journey with KLG Jewellery and she has recently launched a secondary brand titled Black Jewellers Network where she advocates for activism in the jewelry sector, promotes the KLG Hardship Fund, shares the UK Black Jewellers Social Research Report, and hosts online events in support of her fellow jewelry-making community. How inspiring.
Gordon has felt passionate about jewelry since 9 years old when she noticed her mother saved up for a year in order to gift her a gold locket which she keeps in pristine condition until this day. Her designs are delicate to the eye; minimalistic with organic, textured elements contrasting with geometric shapes. My favorite part of her creative process is that everything is ethically-made and infuses storytelling into each piece.
I for one am constantly inspired by the endless ways in which BIPOC creators break barriers and take their ethics and uniqueness along with them throughout their journeys. All 5 of these jewelry brands have gained me as a fan and hopefully you as well. Consider supporting a smaller, independent brand this holiday season. Not only does it help that particular brand stay alive — it also encourages more diversity in various industries and allows us to tell our own stories authentically through creating.
Xo,
Kenya