Luxury giant Kering has teamed up with CIBJO – the World Jewellery Confederation and Poli.Design – Politecnico di Milano to launch the “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry“. This exciting new initiative aims to identify and support the next generation of visionary talent in the jewelry industry, with a particular focus on sustainable design and practices.
The “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” is an extension of Kering’s existing awards program, which is dedicated to promoting innovation and sustainability in various sectors. By extending the award to the jewelry industry, Kering is demonstrating its commitment to fostering creativity, promoting responsible innovation and driving impactful change in the sector.
The award will bring together an international community of young students and start-ups who are passionate about revolutionizing the jewelry industry through sustainable practices. Kering and its prestigious jewelry brands – Boucheron, Pomellato and Qeelin – will work closely with Poli.Design – Politecnico di Milano to launch an international competition among 10 world-renowned universities and academies that offer courses on jewelry and sustainability, as well as start-ups already active in the jewelry sector.
Each participating school will be required to present at least three projects, with students receiving guidance and mentorship from local professors to develop their ideas. Start-ups, on the other hand, will have the opportunity to showcase their own innovations. From the pool of submitted projects, four finalists – two from the student category and two from the start-up category – will be selected to present their work to a distinguished panel of judges at JCK, one of the world’s largest jewelry industry trade events, in June 2025.
The theme of the inaugural Kering Generation Award x Jewelry is “Second Chance, First Choice,” which challenges participants to reimagine waste as a valuable resource. Students and start-ups are invited to create jewelry pieces or collections that transform discarded materials into stunning, valuable objects. This initiative encourages a fresh perspective on the traditional concept of waste, highlighting the immense potential of creative reuse and the intangible power of creativity.
Professor Alba Cappellieri, Head of the Jewelry Department at the Politecnico di Milano and Scientific Coordinator of the Awards, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative: ““Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” embodies the values of innovation and sustainability that are essential for shaping a future where beauty aligns with ethics. By bringing together young talents from leading academical institutions worldwide and start-ups, we are creating a collaborative platform that celebrates creativity and sustainability. We invite students and start-uppers to join us on this journey, to inspire, to innovate, and to lead together the future of sustainable jewelry“.
Marie-Claire Daveu, Kering‘s Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer, emphasized the significance of this new award: “Extending our Kering Generation Awards to jewelry is a pivotal moment in our commitment to advancing sustainability and innovation in the jewelry industry. This new edition, which brings together universities, start-ups, and future leaders, is designed to recognize and support those pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in sustainable jewelry. At Kering, we believe that fostering new ideas at the intersection of craftsmanship, technology, and environmental consciousness is essential to driving the transformative change the industry needs.“
The “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” represents a significant step forward in the luxury group’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainability and innovation across its various sectors.
