b'Jennifer Gandia & Christina Gandia Gambale Floyd ignited widespread conversations about racial discrim-ination, injustice and inequityJ.B. Jones and Bella Neyman, the organizers of NYC Jewelry Week (NYCJW), put together a panel discussion about diversity in the jewelry industry that Jennifer moderated.It was packed and the conversation was incredible, Jennifer says.The following year, Jones and Neyman asked her to help build on that conversation. A group ofDesigner Lorraine West individuals came up with the concept for Here Wenamed this 14-karat yellow gold and diamond Are, which supports diversity in jewelry through anearring from her ongoing series of panels, webinars and exhibitions.collection the Jennifer hoop, in honor of At the inaugural Here We Are event in 2019,Jennifer Gandia. Jennifer stopped to admire the work of a Black jewelry designer named Lorraine West, telling her she could envision a lot of her brass and sterling silver styles translating into fine jewelry and that they should stay in touch, West recalls.West had been designing custom and bespoke fine jewelry since 2011 but had plans to ex-pand her fine line. Meeting Jenniferinitiative, and the Couture shows provided both confirmation she wasDiversity Action Council. on the right path and the connectionChristina, meanwhile, sits on the she needed to make the leap.board of directors for Diamonds Do Within a year of that meeting,Good and has been involved in the Greenwich St. Jewelers was sellingcreation and launch of the new DDG Wests first capsule collection of finebracelet campaign.diamond fashion jewelry, Glimpse.Theyre just such a perfect pair, West says the collection did fantas- West says of the sisters. The love tic, with Greenwich St. Jewelers pro- and the respect they have for one viding her with the solid and supportiveanother, their families and their staff partner every designer needs.is [incredible]. When I think about being withShe likens Greenwich St. Jewelers Greenwich St., I can grow slowly butand its staff to Themyscira, Wonder surely, she says. And I am growingWomans home island of warrior with them. queens who are unique, wonderful, Greenwich St. Jewelers has re- and work well together. mained at the forefront of the push forThey are a force to be reckoned more diversity in the fine jewelry indus- with, she says. Theyve done it from try, making it part of its brand ethos.the ground up, and theyve had to We will never stop advocatinginnovate in their own ways.for diversity, equity and inclusion. AsI enjoy working with them. They Latinas, our passion is personal andknow how to work on both sides we care deeply about BIPOC [Black,of the brain. They know how to Indigenous, and people of color] andcelebrate and throw a good party. But LGBTQ+ representation in the jewel- when its time for business, they dont ry industry, says Jennifer.play. They are about their business.The store has actively diversifiedSome of the display cases inside the new Greenwich St. Jewelers, located atits roster of 40-plus designers and was93 Reade St. (Photo credit: Tom Sibley) The Sketchesthe first retailer to carry jewelry cre- Jennifer and Christina officially be-ated by the designers of the Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative,came co-owners of the store in 2008 when Carlos and Milly retired. the Natural Diamond Council and Lorraine Schwartz-led program toBy then, they had navigated an economic downturn that was provide more opportunities and access for BIPOC designers.Great Depression-like in scale. Together, they also faced Hurricane Jennifer is on the board of advisors for the Black in JewelrySandy in 2012the superstorm that left Lower Manhattan under Coalition and NYCJW, the committee for NYCJWs Here We Arewaterand a global pandemic in 2020 that emptied their neighbor-22 RETAILER HALL OF FAME 2022'