Jewelry
Carolyn Rafaelian is the founder of Alex and Ani, named after Rafaelian’s two daughters. The company originally stated that it wanted to produce “bangle bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings that adorn the body, enlighten the mind, and empower the spirit.” A global success, it now features Game of Thrones™ and Harry Potter™ collections. But Alex and Ani is more than a great jewelry company. It is also a humanitarian company, spreading positivity around the world through collaboration, determination, and inspiration, and its program Charity By Design, which donates 20% of profits to more than 50 non-profits, like Girls On The Run, Every Mother Counts, and The Malala Fund. To date, it has donated more than $50 million.
Alison Chemla is Creative Director and Designer of Alison Lou, based in New York City and inspired by the deceptive simplicity of modern communication and beyond. Since its signature collection, Emoticore, the line has evolved to include collections like Casino and Secret Garden, while always remaining playful in its approach. Mama Mia was dreamed up after a summer trip to Italy, with designs inspired by pastas like farfalle, penne, and spaghetti. LOUCITE, hoop earrings made of lucite and hand-painted enamel, has been seen on Emily Ratajkowski, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Gigi Hadid, Tracee Ellis Ross,Blake Lively, Beyonce, Rihanna, and Amy Adams and Celine Dion. Alison Lou has earned press from Vogue, WWD, InStyle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle.
Based in Brooklyn, Catbird is a woman owned-and-operated jewelry studio that strives to exceed all industry regulations. Employees work in a light-filled space, and enjoy health insurance, profit sharing, and professional development classes. All of its diamonds are ethically and responsibly sourced. It uses a New York City caster who is a leader in using all recycled metals. Its pearls are from a third generation farm in Hubei Province in China which engages in clean water practices. Its stones are sourced from mines that adhere to the highest environmental and human rights standards. Catbird is a certified member of No Dirty Gold, an international campaign to clean up the industry. Its Catbird Foundation donates at least 1% of all sales to non-profits aligned with its core beliefs of equality, and to date has contributed nearly $500,000.
Handmade in New York City with ethically sourced stones and shells, Hattie Banks is the company of Founder and Designer Hattie Gilpin, inspired by her own life and an appreciation for the elegant simplicity of a Southern woman’s style. Her Equestrian Collection is filled of horseshoes and fences, each crafted from ethically-sourced diamonds and precious metals, inspired by her love her horses and the equestrian sport. Her Geometric Collection is comprised of statement rings and delicate necklaces, and tiny, eye-catching earrings with a shiny punch in the form of diamond triangles and other geometric shapes. Her Sea Dipped Collection is inspired by one of nature’s greatest gifts: the ocean. Her ultimate mission is to support innovative ocean preservation nonprofits. She believes the ocean and its inhabitants are nature’s greatest gift to humanity.