Kering Japan Co., Ltd. First ever “Kering Generation Awards X Jewelry” ceremony held in Las Vegas

[Kering Japan Co., Ltd.] First Kering Generation Award X Jewelry ceremony held in Las Vegas ​ Image
URL: Kering Japan Co., Ltd. Press release: June 12, 2025 First Kering Generation Awards X Jewelry ceremony held in Las Vegas
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/55433/37/55433-37-b5464989030823285561b4068831c827-3900×2901.jpg (From left) Tony Favorito (student finalist), Marie-Claire Daveu (Kering), Vicky Wang (acting founder of startup winner “lanyan”), Lee Min-seo (student winner), Francesca Manfredi (Kering), Guillaume Prigent (founder of startup finalist Ex Oblivione) (C)Jeremy Oh June 10, 2025, Las Vegas – On Saturday, June 7, Kering hosted the first-ever Kering Generation Awards X Jewellery ceremony at the JCK Show, one of the most influential events in the global jewellery industry. The award was launched by Kering in November 2024 in collaboration with CIBJO (International Jewellery Confederation), and is scientifically supervised by Poli.Design at the Politecnico di Milano. Its aim is to support and nurture the next generation of innovators working on sustainability in the jewellery industry. Under the theme “Second Chance, First Choice,” participants were challenged to design jewelry that would bring new value to waste materials. They proposed pieces and collections that would bring new life to unwanted materials, using their creativity and a sustainable perspective. 22 startups and students from 10 world-renowned universities and academies participated in the competition. • In the student category, the winner was Lee Min-seo, a student in the Department of Metal Craft and Jewelry Design at Hongik University in Seoul, South Korea. • In the Startup category, Ianyan, China’s first curatorial jewelry brand, won for its creative and responsible approach. The awards ceremony was also attended by Kering’s jewellery brands Boucheron, Pomellato, DoDo and Qeelin, who showed their active support, symbolising the Group’s broad commitment to driving responsible innovation and sustainability throughout the jewellery value chain. The winners will have the opportunity to receive mentoring from experts at Politecnico di Milano. Their designs will also be presented by Kering at the JCK show and through media outlets around the world, highlighting their commitment to innovation and sustainability. In addition, the student winner, Lee Min-seo, will have the opportunity to experience an internship at one of Kering’s jewelry brands. The trophy was designed by Yi Design, winner of the third Kering Generation Award in China. The award was presented by Alba Cappellieri, Professor at the Politecnico di Milano and Head of the Jewelry and Fashion Accessories Program, Marie-Claire Daveu, Kering’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of External Relations, and Gaetano Cavalieri, President of CIBJO. Through the Kering Generation Award X Jewellery, Kering reiterates its belief that creativity and sustainability should go hand in hand in shaping the future of luxury. Marie-Claire Daveu, Kering’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of External Affairs, said: “Through the Kering Generation Award X Jewellery, we want to support new talents who are changing the jewellery industry with their creativity and responsible attitude. Lee Min-seo and Ianyan’s work is a great example of how sustainable innovation is not only possible, but is already happening. We would also like to congratulate all the finalists, whose projects are filled with the imagination and passion that are essential to building a more sustainable future for the industry.” Gaetano Cavalieri, President of CIBJP (International Jewellery Confederation), said: “CIBJO represents the interests of all actors in the entire jewellery value chain. We are delighted to be working with Kering to support this important step towards a more sustainable and equitable industry through this award. The two winning projects are a wonderful symbol of this progress.” 【Winners
Introduction】 Student Division: Lee Min-seo (Korea)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/55433/37/55433-37-f2c1c8a151666ca7c49cf2cf5fa875b5-167×166.jpg Lee Min-seo breathes new life into tradition through her jewelry collection, “Rhythm Reborn,” which uses discarded leather from the traditional Korean percussion instrument, the janggu. In this project, she attempted to reinterpret Korean music with themes of
sustainability and cultural inheritance. The Hongik University student transformed the worn leather of janggu into beautiful jewelry, contributing to reducing waste and symbolically expressing the deep emotion and beauty of Korean music culture. “Rhythm Reborn” is not just a jewelry collection, but a piece with a strong message. By fusing sustainability and tradition, she enhances the value of Korea’s traditional music culture and expresses cultural identity in a modern and powerful way. Startup Category: Ianyan (China)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/55433/37/55433-37-6e0f84c792d6085e263d79ecbe7e6418-203×195.jpg Ianyan is a jewelry brand from China that highlights the “natural beauty” of cracked opals and unique natural stones that are often overlooked in traditional jewelry. By choosing imperfect gemstones and reinterpreting traditional values, Ianyan aims to realize a circular economy by breathing new life into materials through the handiwork of artisans. In addition, all jewelry is designed to be repairable, reconfigurable, and transformable, and is designed to be used for a long time. Each piece tells the story of the cycle of nature. It expresses the beauty of a cycle that is born from the earth, transformed by human hands, and eventually returned to nature. [Judge members] François-Henri Pinault (Chairman and CEO of Kering) Marie-Claire Daveu (Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of External Affairs of Kering) Hélène Pouli-Duquen (CEO of Boucheron) Sabina Belli (CEO of Pomellato) Christophe Artaud (CEO of Qeelin) Gaetano Cavalieri (President of CIBJO (International Jewellery Confederation)) Iris van der Veken (Executive Director, Watch & Jewelry Initiative 2030) Bernadette Pinet-Cook (President, UFBJOP) Alba Cappellieri (Professor, Polytechnic University of Milan, Head of Jewelry Program) Sarin Backman (Vice President, JCK Group) Elisa Nimtzow (Vice President, BSR (Business for Social Responsibility)) About Kering Kering is a global luxury group led by a family. It is home to the creative and innovative luxury brands of Couture & Ready-to-Wear, Leather Goods, Jewelry, Eyewear and Beauty, bringing together people with the passion and expertise to create luxury brands. Its portfolio includes Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, DoDo, Qeelin, Ginori 1735, Kering Eyewear and Kering Beaute. By placing creativity at the heart of its strategy, Kering is enabling its Houses to break new ground in their creative expression and to create the luxury of tomorrow in a sustainable and responsible way. We embody this belief in our signature: “Creativity is our Legacy.” In 2024, the Group will achieve sales of approximately 17.2 billion euros and have approximately 47,000 employees at the end of the fiscal year. About the Kering Generation Award In 2017, as part of its sustainability strategy, Kering joined the accelerator “Plug and Play – Fashion for Good” with the aim of identifying more sustainable and innovative materials and processes in Europe. In 2018, we partnered with Plug and Play China to host the first edition of the Kering Generation Award, which supports Chinese startups that are making a positive impact on the environment and society. The Kering Generation Award has since been held in Japan in collaboration with CIC Tokyo, and in Saudi Arabia with the support of the Fashion Commission. About CIBJO CIBJO (World Jewellery Organization) is an international jewellery industry organisation made up of national trade associations. The purpose of CIBJO is to harmonise industry standards, harmonise rules, promote international cooperation and address issues affecting the jewellery industry as a whole. CIBJO’s most important mission is to protect the trust of consumers. CIBJO is also the only organization in the jewelry industry to be granted “Special Consultative Status” by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is a member of the United Nations Global Compact. About Poli.Design at Politecnico di Milano Poli.Design is a consortium of the Politecnico di Milano, Italy’s leading science and technology university, which is ranked among the top in engineering, architecture and design worldwide. Known for its focus on innovation, research and interdisciplinary collaboration, the school plays a leading role in driving sustainability initiatives and nurturing talent across disciplines that will shape the future. Through partnerships with industry leaders like Kering, Poli.Design empowers the next generation of designers and engineers dedicated to developing solutions that contribute to a more sustainable world. About JCK Regarded as the world’s most important jewelry exhibition, the award-winning JCK Show brings the industry together through a variety of activities to buy, sell, network, learn and discover, providing the jewelry trade worldwide with an ideal platform for business growth. JCK is the most important comprehensive exhibition in the jewelry industry, bringing together professionals from all fields and diverse products under one roof. For over 30 years, JCK has been the go-to place for jewelry trends, new products and brands, welcoming more than 18,000 visitors and over 1,900 exhibitors every year, providing unparalleled business opportunities connecting quality buyers and sellers. The exhibition brings together the jewelry industry and media partners to conduct business and make important connections. It also inspires attendees through multi-day product discovery and exclusive experiences. More information about this release *This email has been sent automatically, so please do not reply.