Now in its fourth week, the war in Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24 with Russia’s invasion, continues to raise world concern and international sanctions. As a result, the jewelry industry is also raising its stakes in supporting the Ukrainian people during this brutal assault.
Fundraising efforts through raffles, sales donations, and other methods are ongoing from many jewelers. One recent addition is Eva Fehren, which is donating 50% of each of its signature X ring to chef José Andrés’ nonprofit organization World Central Kitchen (WCK).
WCK is currently serving thousands of fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing their homes as well as to those who remain in the country. The organization is known to be the first to the front lines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crisis around the world.
The X ring is a fitting choice, given that it represents both tenderness and strength. Eva Zuckerman, creative director and cofounder of Eva Fehren, says she hopes the company’s donation comes at key time for the Ukrainian conflict.
“I’ve always thought of Eva Fehren as a company that values and promotes tolerance, acceptance, kindness, equality, and love. It’s been heartbreaking to see what’s happening in Ukraine,” Zuckerman says. “We hope to provide support to people who are facing forces that don’t place value on those things.”
Signet Jewelers Ltd. donated $1 million to the Red Cross Ukraine humanitarian relief efforts through its Signet Love Inspires Foundation. In a statement, Signet also said it had suspended business interaction with Russian-owned entities since the beginning of the invasion “in unity with all those in the world calling for peace.”
“At Signet, our purpose is inspiring love. We stand against this invasion and pray for all the innocent people impacted by war,” Signet CEO Gina Drosos said in that statement. “We put our purpose into action through the Signet Love Inspires Foundation and the generous contributions from our Signet team members. We give with a grateful heart to support the Red Cross organization’s critical mission to provide lifesaving help where it is so desperately needed.”
Here are some other ways that jewelers are supporting the Ukrainian relief efforts:
• Larissa Loden is donating 100% of profits from her Support Ukraine Bracelet, a part of her Do Good series, to Alight, a Minneapolis family of organizations working to build “a meaningful life” for the displaced, the jewelry company said in a statement. “They have people on the ground in Ukraine and Poland providing much-needed support.” Loden added: “I was fortunate enough to visit Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, when I was an exchange student in Latvia. I didn’t know what to expect, but was surprised to find the most warm and wonderful people and a beautiful city with rolling hills and the Dnieper River running through it. We can all do our part to provide support, so I’m doing what I know how to do best and have designed a bracelet as part of our Do Good series.”
• Robbins Brothers made donations “in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and in pursuit of peace and love worldwide. It also identified via email and Instagram some organizations if people were looking to donate, including CARE, which is providing food and water to Ukrainians fleeing the area; the Red Cross; Sunflower of Peace, a nonprofit organization providing medical and humanitarian aid; and the International Rescue Committee, which is on the ground in Poland helping children and families.
• Greenwich St. Jewelers held a raffle benefiting Razom for Ukraine, which provides emergency response and critical medical aid to Ukrainians. On Instagram, co-owner Jennifer Gandia said the raffle for its Astra pendant raised $7,320 for Ukraine. “Wherever we are in the world, above us is the same sky full of stars. We are an embodied mirror of the cosmos: one constellation called humanity,” Gandia said.
• Pure Vida is donating 100% of the net profits as allowed by state law from its Ukraine Relief Bracelet to Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 100 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies— without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. Direct Relief is working with Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and other on-the-ground partners to provide medical aid, including emergency response packs intended for first responders, oxygen concentrators, critical care medicines, and more. More than 25 tons of medical aid have been provided since the conflict broke out in February.
Top: Eva Fehren is donating 50% of the proceeds from the sales of its signature X ring to chef José Andrés’ nonprofit organization World Central Kitchen, which is on the front lines feeding Ukrainian families in need (photo courtesy of Eva Fehren).
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