Five emerging designers will develop capsule collections with Tiffany’s design team, competing for a $50,000 grant and a yearlong fellowship
Tiffany & Co. and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have announced five finalists for the second edition of the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award, continuing their partnership to support emerging talent in American jewelry design. Angelo Jones, Aaron Mak, Christine Olowonira, Haley Kim, and Ivi Kyratzi have been selected for the 2026–27 program, which combines creative mentorship, technical development, and a design challenge inspired by the jewelry house’s heritage.
Throughout the program, the finalists will collaborate with Tiffany’s design team to develop individual interpretations of the house’s established design codes. Each participant will receive a stipend to create a capsule collection of three to five metal jewelry pieces, translating their creative perspectives into designs that engage with Tiffany’s history and craftsmanship. The completed collections will be presented to a selection committee and showcased at The Landmark, Tiffany’s Fifth Avenue flagship in New York.
One finalist will ultimately receive a $50,000 grant and a one-year paid fellowship within Tiffany’s design department, providing an opportunity to gain professional experience within the house. The winner is expected to be announced in spring 2027. The award reflects a broader commitment to supporting independent designers through both financial resources and direct access to industry expertise.
The selection committee brings together figures from across fashion, jewelry, art, and entertainment. Members include Tiffany’s chief artistic officer Nathalie Verdeille, Sotheby’s jewelry vice chairman Frank Everett, CFDA board member Bethann Hardison, Andrew Bolton of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, actress Gabrielle Union-Wade, writer Lynn Yaeger, Rajni Jacques, and Karla Martinez de Salas. Jameel Mohammed, founder of jewelry label Khiry and recipient of the inaugural award, also joins the committee for this edition.
First introduced in 2024, the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award initially welcomed 10 participants for a four-month development program. Designers were tasked with creating five-piece collections that balanced Tiffany’s heritage with a contemporary perspective directed toward Gen Z consumers. The experience incorporated monthly mentorship sessions, educational discussions covering gemstones, sustainability, and brand identity, and visits to Tiffany’s Jewelry Design and Innovation Workshop. Mohammed was named the inaugural winner in January 2025 and began his fellowship the following April.
The second edition follows an expansion of the organizations’ partnership earlier this year. In May, Tiffany and the CFDA introduced the Jewelry Design Scholar Award, a separate initiative providing a $25,000 scholarship and summer internship to an early-career jewelry design student. Together, the two programs extend support across different stages of professional development, from students entering the industry to independent designers seeking to advance their practices.
Both initiatives form part of Tiffany Atrium, the house’s social impact platform, and the CFDA’s broader efforts to cultivate American design talent. By combining mentorship, financial assistance, and professional opportunities, the partnership aims to strengthen the next generation of jewelry designers while encouraging new interpretations of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary luxury.
