Yesterday we spotlighted brands and designers who’ve been vocal in their support of Black Lives Matter and the peaceful protesting (not the looting and crime) that’s been happening in cities all over the country following the shocking death of Minneapolis man George Floyd.
Today on Instagram, we’re seeing many jewelry accounts posting a plain black square in a show of support, with the hashtag #blackouttuesday—an initiative promoted by the NAACP and Black Lives Matter. At press time, the tag had been used about 17 million times.
And now several jewelry companies are taking the next step—by donating money to nonprofit organizations that support the fight for equality and justice for people of color spearheaded by the Black Lives Matter movement.
Signet Jewelers announced that it’s donating $100,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. “We’re doing so in honor of our 30,000 team members who freely express their diversity within a safe place of acceptance and inclusion,” Gina Drosos, company CEO, wrote on Signet’s website. “I personally care very deeply about this issue, and it is my fervent hope that our communities will unite to be more accepting and inclusive of those who walk freely within them…Signet stands for love, and we stand together, united with our communities, in support of freedom, justice, peace, and love for all.”
Brooklyn, N.Y., jewelry retailer Catbird announced yesterday that it was donating $15,000 to the ACLU, $15,000 to Black Lives Matter, $15,000 to the NAACP, and $5,000 to “community funds,” and added that as a company it would “continue to listen, learn, step up, and take action against systematic racism.”
On her Instagram Stories, jewelry designer Brent Neale is selling watercolor paintings of flowers she’s been creating for $300 each, then matching the price herself and donating the $600 from each sale to the NAACP.
Designer Melissa Joy Manning announced this week on Instagram that she donated $1,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and will be hosting an auction of items on the platform to benefit No Kid Hungry, the NAACP, the ACLU, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The online auction will take place June 8–10.
Jewelry and accessories brand Lele Sadoughi announced on Instagram yesterday that it would be donating $2,500 to the NAACP, and will be hosting a “shop for a cause” event Wednesday online that will send a percentage of sales to the organization as well.
NYC jewelry and accessories brand Lizzie Fortunato posted that it’s donating $1,000 to the NAACP and is reserving another $1,000 to “match donations to organizations supporting causes aligned with fighting racism, repairing the criminal justice system, and ending oppressive policing.”
And Los Angeles–based jewelry brand IO Collective posted on Instagram that until June 5 at 10 p.m. it would match donations up to $1,000 to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, the Black Vision Collective, Reclaim the Block, and Black Lives Matter.
(If you know of brands and designers donating to any nonprofits, please email me at evesilind@gmail.com and I will add to this list.)
Photo via @melissajoymanning
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