Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative
ABOUT
The Natural Diamond Council and U.S. jewelry designer, Lorraine Schwartz, are pleased to introduce the Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative. With the allocation of $1 million dollars of diamond credit, this program will provide opportunities, remove barriers to entry, and offer unparalleled access to industry education and resources to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) jewelry designers. Designers who do not presently work with diamonds are encouraged to apply.
Without a previous history with suppliers, or references in the industry, it can be challenging to purchase diamonds. Our program aims to help designers establish credit in their own names and understand the process of diamond financing, credit and memo terms.
The one-year program will include:
- Diamond education seminars
- $20,000 line of credit with 24 month pay-back terms to purchase diamonds
- Access to production, marketing, finance, legal, HR and supply chain resources
- Retail and sales advice and support
- Online learning platform and monthly webinars with industry experts
- Individual mentors matched to each designer’s business needs
- PR and social media opportunities
- Promoted content on NDC channels
- Monthly networking sessions with other participants
DIAMOND CREDIT & SELECTION PROCESS
Designers will be encouraged to utilize a variety of diamonds including those of differing colors and sizes, in order to celebrate the uniqueness of natural diamonds and a variety of price points.
A diamond credit will offer designers access to diamonds with extended payment terms of up to 24 months to diamantaires. NDC will guarantee this timeframe with our partners to ensure that designers have time to create and sell their diamond jewelry.
Applicants must be U.S. based and in business for at least one year and provide a brief business overview that outlines their operations to date and future goals. Sketches will be required along with a description of how diamonds will be incorporated into designs.
A selection committee including Lorraine Schwartz, stylist and designer, Jason Rembert, fashion director of Vanity Fair, Nicole Chapoteau and NDC CEO, David Kellie will review designer applications until the $1 million diamond credit has been fully allocated.
Please contact applications@naturaldiamond.com with any questions regarding the application process.
APPLY HERE
SELECTION COMMITTEE
Lorraine Schwartz
Lorraine Schwartz Fine Jewelry
Jason Rembert
Stylist & Designer, Aliette
David Kellie
CEO, Natural Diamond Council
Nicole Chapoteau
Fashion Director, Vanity Fair
“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 jewelers because they don’t have those established generational industry relationships. Helping up-and-coming BIPOC designers gain entry to diamond vendors and credit financing as well as offer tools to expand their businesses is important to me and to the generations to come. This program is another opportunity to give back to those communities that have embraced me and have been a wonderful part of my journey as a designer over the last 20 years.”