New York: Tiffany & Co. and the Council of
Fashion Designers of America have announced the 2026–2027 edition of the
Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award, with the programme expanding
this year to include a new student-focused scholarship.
The latest edition introduces the Tiffany x CFDA Jewelry
Design Scholar Award, a $25,000 scholarship accompanied by a summer internship
opportunity. The new addition is aimed at supporting early design students and
broadening the programme’s reach beyond emerging jewellery designers already
building their careers.
The initiative reflects a wider effort by Tiffany & Co.
and CFDA to identify and support creative talent at different stages of the
design journey. While the main award continues to focus on emerging designers,
the scholar award is intended to give students financial assistance, industry
exposure and early access to professional mentorship.
According to CFDA chief executive officer and president
Steven Kolb, the expansion marks an important step for the programme, as it
recognises talent not only among designers entering the industry, but also
among students at the very beginning of their creative development. He said the
partnership reflects a shared belief that creativity remains central to
American fashion and design.
As part of the main award programme, selected finalists will
once again receive financial support to develop a three- to five-piece
jewellery collection. They will also work closely with Tiffany & Co.’s
design team through a multi-week mentorship and educational experience.
The finalists’ collections will be presented to a selection
committee during the final award ceremony at Tiffany & Co.’s Fifth Avenue
flagship, The Landmark. One winner will receive a $50,000 grant along with a
one-year fellowship in Tiffany’s design department.
The selection committee includes names from fashion, media
and the arts, including Gabrielle Union, Bethann Hardison, Andrew Bolton and
Lynn Yaeger, among others.
Applications for the 2026 Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry
Designer Award opened on 11 May and will close on 1 June. Finalists are
expected to be announced in the autumn, with the final recipient to be named in
early 2027.
Nathalie Verdeille, senior vice president and chief artistic officer at Tiffany & Co., said the second cycle of the award highlights the House’s continued commitment to creativity, craftsmanship and nurturing the next generation of design talent.
