b'THE STATE OF RETAIL DIAMONDSJEWELRYCOLORED DESIGN STONESIf we can continue to approach [ADAMcGintys experience as a plus-size customer compliance] with compassion and inclusivity,who is often turned away at stores unequipped I think its always a good thing. to serve her also informed her business deci-sion to make inclusion a priority.INCLUSIVITY IN ACTION If you dont bake size inclusivity into your Ashley McGinty of San Diego-basedoriginal mission, a lot of folks might walk past Chouette Designs operates her jewelry brandsyour store, she says. And if that store decides, website with inclusivity in mind. Oh, were going to add plus-sizes now, well, Founded by McGinty and her wife Marine,that customer who already talked to you about the goal of Chouette Designs is to create beauti- that is gone.ful, size-inclusive, and gender-affirming designs. While accommodating customers with dis-We are passionate about shifting theabilities may require a custom order, meaning nature of the jewelry industry to more closelya longer wait time, she finds customers are reflect our values of diversity and inclusion,willing to wait and work with her because the said the brand. brand is coming from a place of authenticity.McGinty says on their brands website andChouette Designs said itWhether a brand started off with inclusivity social media channels, they add alt text toaims to create beautiful,in its mission or is making changes now, McGinty photographs to aid visually impaired customerssize-inclusive, and gender- says being open to customer feedback is crucial.and add captions on videos for hearing-affirming designs. No one is perfect, and there are probably impaired clients. practices and moments we have missed. We do She also opts for high-contrast text colors for greater visibility,our best to catch these and appreciate any call-ins from our community something Rivera says is helpful for her. for ways to improve, she says. This is the most important factor, in Offering a dark mode on your website also is a way to be moremy opinion, the willingness to listen.accessible, Rivera notes. As Perkins School for the Blind explains, darkRivera says, The first thing I think retailers need to understand is mode causes less eye strain and fatigue, and many users find that lightthat we are customers, we are part of the market, and that blindness colors pop more against a dark screen, making them easier to read.is a spectrum.Be sure to label the websites sections with text rather than images,Theres a misconception that disabled lives are not good lives, she which a screen reader may not be able to pick up. says, and thats not true.McGinty says she has learned what works, in part, through ongoingThe disability lived experience is a rich one. We have friendships. conversations on social media with her customers about accessibilityWe have romances. We have family members. We are traveling. in design. People really need to understand that, she says.Some customers are grateful to be asked how a brand can be moreI think theres a lot of pity for disabled people. Thats not what inclusive of them, and others dont acknowledge it, says McGinty, butwe want. We want people to be moved to create a more accessible its something her brand wouldve done either way. world, to include us. Its just something that I have baked into the ethos of our brand, being inclusive regardless of whether its a disability specifically or just with body shape or in our marketing that includes differ-ent races, different sexual orientations. Any kind of representation that we can, I try to get featured. Pieces from Chouette Chouette Designs also has heard from itsDesigns Ember collection featuring sapphire slices set community about design features in jewelry thatin 14-karat goldwould be helpful for customers with disabilities.For example, it offers bracelets with different clasps, like a bolo bracelet or a bangle with a safety hinge, since the standard lobster clasp doesnt work for everyone.McGinty has previously taken to Instagram Stories to ask her customers which closure they prefer and why.Its kind of eye-opening because I thought getting [the bracelet] on and off by yourself is absolutely the most important thing, she says. Other customers will tell me, Hey, Im neuro-diverse and the little dangling parts on a bolo chain are actually really distracting to me. 18 STATE OF THE MAJORS 2025'