2024 HERE WE ARE Award Winners

NYC Jewelry Week is delighted to announce the 2024 recipients of the HERE WE ARE (HWA) Awards, honoring innovative and impactful talent within the jewelry industry. This year, NYC Jewelry Week proudly presents the Exhibition Award, sponsored by David Yurman, and the Emerging Entrepreneur Awards, generously supported by Halstead.

Exhibition Award Winner

The 2024 HWA Exhibition Award has been awarded to Lisette Scott of Jam+Rico, a dynamic fashion jewelry brand established in June 2016. Jam+Rico, which stands for Jamaica + Puerto Rico, blends Caribbean culture with bold, colorful designs crafted to bring joy, confidence, and beauty to each wearer. Lisette’s NYCJW24 event, Island Gold: An Evening with Jam+Rico, will be a one-day exhibition and panel discussion celebrating the launch of Jam+Rico’s newest collection, inspired by the vibrant culture of Barbados. Guests can enjoy tropical cocktails, island-inspired bites, and rhythmic tunes, and hear insights from a panel discussion on cultural identity and the role of heritage in shaping creativity and fashion today. Island Gold promises to be a memorable experience, showcasing Jam+Rico’s journey and cultural storytelling through art and design.

Lisette Scott of Jam + Rico

Emerging Entrepreneur Award Winners

The 2024 HWA Emerging Entrepreneur Awards, sponsored by Halstead, recognize two inspiring jewelry entrepreneurs:

  • Omar Monroy of El Techichi Jewelry (New York): A passionate advocate for inclusivity and heritage in design, Omar uses up-cycled and vintage gems, as well as organic materials, to create jewelry that challenges traditional norms and celebrates beauty beyond gender. “I love jewelry because it transforms my self-view and connects me to my roots,” says Omar. Through her work, Omar expresses her identity in ways she could not before, finding joy and pride in celebrating her heritage.
  • Yacine Hamdani (USA): Based in California, Yacine turned to jewelry-making as a creative outlet while studying software engineering at university. “Creating jewelry saved my mental health,” Yacine shares. “During my second year, while working in a 3D printing lab, I would stay after hours developing my jewelry pieces.” Yacine’s story exemplifies resilience and creativity, finding beauty in the intersection of art and technology.
Omar Monroy of El Techichi Jewelry
Yacine Hamdani

About HERE WE ARE

HERE WE ARE is a strategic initiative designed to address widespread inequity and a lack of representation in the jewelry industry through action and impact. Launched in 2019, the HERE WE ARE program highlights creators and builds industry awareness around issues of diversity, inclusion, equity, representation, and allyship. Introduced in 2020, the HERE WE ARE Funding Awards spotlight exceptional talent. Every year, one individual receives a financial grant to execute an exhibition at NYC Jewelry Week. Once restricted to members of the HERE WE ARE cohort and alumni, applications are now open to the wider community.

NYC Jewelry Week congratulates the 2024 HWA Award winners and is honored to showcase these trailblazing voices at this year’s NYCJW24. Join us in celebrating their creativity, resilience, and dedication to diversity in the jewelry world!