Nothing makes us quite as proud as our dedication to our voluntary designer mentorship program, Belonging @ COUTURE. Now in its third cycle, the 7 exceptional talents that make up this year’s cohort of mentees, The Iridescence by COUTURE, will be showcasing their work in a salon (634) on our main show floor, Cristal. Featuring a range of aesthetic sensibilities, the group encompasses a diverse curation of talent from a variety of disciplines.

Aziza:

Brooklyn-based artist, Aziza-Abdullah Nicole, hails from P.G. County Maryland, aka the DMV. She first made a name for herself with her grillz work, “turning smiles into statements,” before expanding into other areas of the craft. Infinitiely influenced by her mother’s jewelry collection, which embodies 1970’s style, she draws inspiration from her father’s refined taste, edgy attitude and hippy style, as well as by his work as a stonemason, where he shaped marble, granite and limestone by hand.

A graduate gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Aziza combines technical expertise with hands-on craft, incorporating the lost-wax carving and metalsmithing skills she acquired under Carol Gelenman at Liloveve Jewelry Studios.

She manifests and dreams each collection, then sketches every design by hand before sculpting each form in wax, ensuring every piece of jewelry is engineered for comfort. Aziza puts intention and care into all steps of her creative process, creating pieces that make the wearer feel regal, strong and protected.

Instagram: @aziza.handcrafted

Cindy Liebel Jewelry:

Influences of her early exploration of art can be seen throughout Cindy Liebel’s eponymous collection of jewelry. Through photography, which she discovered in high school, she explored composition, light and details that shaped the way she saw the world around her. Applying this same level of discipline to her jewelry designs, which she began creating in 2010, she manipulates metals to create contrasts of texture and color, establishing a sense of balance and fluidity in her work.

Working primarily in sterling silver and 14k yellow gold, the creative process and aesthetic foundation are profoundly entwined for this Virginia-based jeweler. Deeply inspired by architecture and music, she begins each day listing to soundscapes that inspire her as she creates rhythmic strikes with her hammer.

At COUTURE, Cindy will be showcasing her signature classics along with an expansion of her Floral collection, a series reminiscent of blind-contour drawing, built from continuous lines that begin and end with intention, and flow into elegant, sculptural curves.

Instagram: @cindyleibeljewelry 

dan-yell:

Designer and founder of dan-yell, Danyell Roscoe, has had a life-long fascination with gemstones, their magic first taking an indelible hold on her during a childhood trip to the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. Years later, while she was on a business trip to India, the colors, textures and sense of discovery reignited that early rush of curiosity and found a permanent home in her creative process.

Danyell conveys themes of antiquity through a lens of contemporary influences. Drawing inspiration from the rich cultures she experienced on her world travels, talismans she encountered along the way, and the women who surround her—artists, makers and thinkers who work with intention—she creates pieces that feel lived in and timeless.

Working from her Brooklyn studio, Danyell works with wax to sculpt softened geometric shapes that strike a balance between space and substance. She utilizes 10k gold, subtle textures, gemstones and negative space, resulting in pieces that feel both grounded and ethereal.

Instagram: @danyellrascoejewelry

Jessica Liu:

Designer Jessica Liu was drawn to fine jewelry on her search for a creative outlet, and she found expression for her unique perspective through the artform. The former lawyer discovered metalsmithing in 2019 and was immediately fascinated by the possibilities in manipulating noble metals to communicate her artistic vision. Working in 14k gold and sterling silver, Jessica sculpts her designs in wax before casting them using the ancient lost-wax method.

Jessica creates sculptural, fluid forms, drawing influence from architect Zaha Hadid and the light-filled works of Olafur Eliasson. The open work in her pieces allows the wearer to become part of the design and organic forms become sleekly modern through the use of high polish finishes.

Recently, color has become an increasingly central element to Jessica’s work. She gravitates towards joyfully colored, kaleidoscopic gemstones with translucency that allow colors to glow from within, adding a sense of nostalgia in her most current designs.

Instagram: @jessicaliudesigns

Rebel Jewelry:

Growing up in Lebanon, the founder of Rebel Jewelry, Marie Helena, used jewelry as a means of expressing the things she couldn’t say out loud. The artform was a place for her creativity, emotions and her desire to choose her own path amidst the conservative environment of her childhood. In 2017, wanting to turn her passion into her lifework, Marie Helena launched Rebel Jewelry.

In the years that followed, she lived through experiences that taught her resilience, patience and strength, and her life changed many times over, including leaving her home country for the great unknown. After a brief pause to get her footing, Marie Helena re-launched the brand in 2023 in honor of her grandfather.

Every design in her collection carries a part of her story. From the paper plane she sketched when she was dreaming of freedom to the ellipsis inspired by Arabic calligraphy, she uses the mediums of 18k gold, diamonds and enamel to pay tribute to life’s many chapters.

Instagram: @itsrebeljewelry 

Sanct Desiderata:

Founder of Sanct Desiderata, jeweler and designer, Julia de Souza, has been a maker for as far back as she can remember. She would spend her summers turning her father’s small storefront in Costa Rica into a studio and boutique, selling handmade, beaded accessories, and while studying architecture, when just 18 years old, she founded her first company. Her eventual discovery of metalsmithing changed the trajectory of her life, drawing her deeper into the creation of a world of symbolism, narrative and celestial influence and leading her to found Sanct Desiderata.

Working primarily in silver and gold, Julia samples designs in silver before refining them in the more forgiving solid gold. She favors gemstones that allow for carving and shaping, like pearls and opals, as well as tourmalines, sapphires and colored diamonds.

Creating fluid, organic forms that lie in contrast to the geometric, structural details from which she draws inspiration, she is also influenced by the natural world, symbolism and esoteric texts.

Instagram: @stdesiderata

Xiao Wang:

A self-described “rockhound,” designer Xiao Wang has been collecting rocks since childhood. Born in China and raised in the U.S., her family history with mining combined with her adventurous spirit has inspired Xiao to not just find and admire gemstones, but to collect secret rock maps from dealers, revealing hidden locations where she can dig for her own stones.

Xiao began designing jewelry while living in New York, where she mastered lost wax casting and metalsmithing. Her unique approach to the creative process is part of the magic of her work; each design unfolds differently, reflecting a meditative experience that transforms raw materials into cherished memories, all infused with the designer’s own sense of exuberance.

Working with 18k gold, natural colored diamonds, sapphires and tourmalines, her jewelry is influenced by Japanese manga and 50’s and 60’s pop art, and each handcrafted piece in her eponymous collection tells a meaningful story, merging artistry with a commitment to sustainability.

Instagram: @xiaowangjewelry