(PRESS RELEASE) De Beers Group announces Indira Scott as the face of the first collective under ReSet, a series of collaborations with jewelry designers to engage in conversations around sustainability and to offer a fresh perspective on the positive impacts of natural diamonds.
The initiative aims to help ‘reset’ perceptions and shine a light on the significant positive contribution that natural diamonds deliver for the people and places where they are found, by collaborating with established and up-and-coming jewelry designers who will set diamonds discovered by De Beers into a range of pieces, celebrating sustainability in the sector.
The initiative’s first activation – the ReSet Collective – is a collaboration with five leading US designers who share a passion for natural diamonds and sustainable sourcing – Jade Trau, Jennie Kwon, Julez Bryant, Sara Weinstock and Zoë Chicco. The designers travelled to Botswana late last year to visit De Beers Group’s operations and a range of community and conservation programs, learning about the company’s commitment to Building Forever, which focuses on building a positive legacy by protecting the environment, helping communities thrive, championing women and girls and being industry leaders in ethical practices.
For the campaign, Indira Scott was shot around NYC in the unique pendants. Each piece incorporates Melee diamonds, one .30 carat white round diamond, and for each designer but Sara Weinstock, a rough diamond from Botswana, all courtesy of De Beers, in designs inspired by the people, wildlife, and beautiful landscape of Botswana, as well as a shared commitment to helping shape a better world.
The collection of one-of-a-kind pieces will be revealed to the public on November 17th with an online auction. Proceeds from the sale of each piece will be split equally between Stepping Stones and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
“I’m so thrilled to be a part of the new campaign for the De Beers Group mainly because it’s so important for me to work with brands that I feel are aligned with my convictions and core values. It’s so important that we all support companies like this one, who work with charities like NAACP & Stepping Stones international because they are using their power to positively impact in the world in every way that they can and we all know how dire it is becoming that we start caring about/tending to our planet and all of its inhabitants.
Our world is dying. Climate change is real. There’s no denying it anymore. I can’t even imagine at this point how any jewelry lover can bear to wear diamonds, knowing their source is from a company which is destroying our planet and, in turn, our livelihood. What will having our beloved diamonds mean anyway if we have no society to wear them in because we ruined it to have them?” says face of collective, Indira Scott.
When each of the designers were asked about their experiences in Botswana, Jennie Kwon replied, “Us designers formed such a special bond while we were out in Botswana with De Beers Group and we wanted to commemorate the experience by collaborating on a project that would live on beyond the trip. As this project started to get fleshed out, it became important to us that the project feel relevant to the times, with so many things going on this year. Once it was decided that the proceeds would go towards causes that we each felt were relevant and important, the purpose became two-fold, so took on even more weight.
Jade Trau added, “The trip was life changing for me, so being able to memorialize it in a piece of jewelry was just the icing on the cake. It empowered and educated me in the rough diamond space, as well as the supply chain, and it makes me feel good about choosing to design and sell diamond jewelry as my career.”
Sara Weinstock said, “Fine jewelry is a passion for me, and one that is rooted in the beauty, naturality, and authenticity of a diamond. I wanted to be part of this campaign because I want to highlight to consumers—young and old—the good that the natural diamond industry does and the ethical ways in which diamonds are mined since there are some outdated representations out there. The gift of this trip was seeing first-hand the process and feeling confident that I am a lucky woman to work within the diamond industry. My dreams have been realized.”
Julez Bryant responded “I have chosen to be a part of this because the land of Botswana is sacred and it’s in my soul now. If we use diamonds from De Beers Group, then perhaps I can bring the magic of the people into my work and we can in turn contribute to their growth and empowerment.”
Zoë Chicco remarked that she was, “honored to be invited to Botswana with De Beers Group and an amazing group of my fellow female designers to learn more about the diamond industry, De Beers’ impact and the country itself. It was truly an eye-opening experience. What De Beers is doing in Botswana is supporting and lifting up the people and providing opportunities that wouldn’t have existed otherwise. One of the highlights of the trip was getting to go on safari with the women I had become so close with during our adventure and seeing so many majestic creatures in person. It was truly a magical experience for all of us.”
Visit here or @debeersgroup on Instagram for exclusive content that follows each designer’s creative journey from her experience in Botswana to the creation of her unique pendant.