15+ U.S. CARIBBEAN JEWELRY BRANDS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Nestled within the vibrant landscape of the United States are remarkable Caribbean jewelry brands, each weaving tales of sun-soaked beaches, rhythmic island beats, and timeless craftsmanship. From the sandy shores of the islands to the bustling metropolises of the U.S., these brands transport the essence of the Caribbean into every meticulously crafted piece. These jewelry designers, hailing from the sun-kissed islands of the Caribbean, bring a kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and stories through their work.
1.LORRAINE WEST (Heritage: Jamaica)
As a self-taught craftswoman, Lorraine West pays homage to her Caribbean roots mixing bold and minimalists design sensibilities. Her symbolic and geometric designs have not only been seen on stars from Zendaya to Beyoncé, but also on countless of everyday people who are drawn to the excellence of her craft. Lorraine graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology with a BFA in Illustration and lives in Brooklyn with her son and husband, who both continue to support her handcrafted creations, all made with Love.
Website: https://lorrainewestjewelry.com/
Social: @lorrainewestjewelry
2. WE DREAM IN COLOUR (Heritage: Trinidad)
We Dream in Colour is a black-owned, self-funded, and independent jewellery line designed and handmade with a focus on sustainability. Founder Jade Gedeon has been designing jewellery that separates itself with bold colours and rich patinas for over a decade. Each and every piece is assembled by their all-women team in Salem, MA studio. They use repurposed materials and earth-friendly processes wherever possible and focus on working with socially conscious suppliers.
Website: https://wedreamincolour.com/
Social: @wedreamincolour
3. PAPER PAPAYAS (Heritage: Trinidad)
Paper Papayas is a small Black woman-owned business, specializing in Caribbean inspired handmade accessories. Their jewelry is inspired by culture and the beautiful , strong women in the designer’s genealogy is the muse. The owner Shae Rogers, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a first generation Trinidadian-American who uses elements in every single piece that she makes which hold significant meaning.
Website: https://shoppaperpapayas.com/
Soical: @paperpapayas
4. JOHNNY NELSON (Heritage: St. Vincent & The Grenadines)
Johnny Nelson Jewelry was founded in 2017 by Johnny Nelson. Each piece is proudly crafted in NYC using various fine metals and stones. Nelson’s transition into jewelry design began in 2014, when he was on tour and decided he wanted to “look as good” as he felt while performing. His first piece was an attention-grabbing 3-finger ring, made with stone and wire, that he asked his mom to bring to life. It was then Nelson found he had not just a genuine passion for jewelry, but the raw talent and creative vision to match. In his designs, Nelson draws inspiration from his diverse artistic and cultural experiences that merge punk, hip-hop, and spirituality. The line heavily focuses on statement pieces that spark conversation amongst consumers.
Website: https://johnnynelson.nyc/
Social: @johnnynelson
5. JAM + RICO (Heritage: Jamaica)
Established since June 2016, Jam + Rico is a fashion jewelry company providing bold, unique and colorful design. Jam + Rico stands for Jamaica + Puerto Rico, the plus sign symbolizes the depth of the culture of Jam + Rico. The team travels to Caribbean countries finding inspiration from the people, culture, music and terrain. Their mission is to provide thoughtfully created accessories to enhance your fashion wardrobe. Their pieces bring joy to the wearer and evoke confidence and beauty to each individual.
Website: https://www.jamandrico.com/
Social: @jamandrico
6. MAIDEN DENIM (Heritage: Guyana)
At Maiden Denim, all of the denim they use is recycled from previously worn garments sourced from donations from customers or from thrift stores. They only use surgical steel, sterling silver, as well as silver- or gold-plated copper for metal parts. All of their gems are Swarovski Crystals.
Website: https://maidendenim.com/
Social: @maidendenim
7. SOL Y SOUL CREATIONS (Heritage: Dominican Republic)
At Sol y Soul Creations, all earrings are made of polymer clay, with stainless steel components, and nickel free hypoallergenic stainless steel posts. The brand is led by Dominican American Jodenny Smith, and all pieces are handmade in small batches in Brooklyn, NY.
Website: https://solysoulcreations.com/
Social: @_solysoul_
8. MATEO (Heritage: Jamaica)
Founded by Matthew Harris in 2009, Mateo New York is a Caribbean-owned jewelry brand that includes earrings, bracelets, necklaces and more, made from precious metals like 14K gold. Born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica, he is the son of a seamstress. He arrived in the US at the age of 16 to attend college. After completing his studies, he discovered his true passion in New York City - the art of Jewelry making. Being a self taught designer, he spent much of his time in the jewelry district learning and perfecting the art form.Harris recently expanded into gorgeous handbags and luxury candles, proving there’s nothing he can’t do well.
Website: https://mateonewyork.com/
Social: @mateonewyork
9. NINA RIOS (Heritage: Puerto Rico)
Nina Rios is an eponymous jewelry line that melds the warmth of her Caribbean heritage with the grit of living in New York City. She studied metalsmithing at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Website: https://www.ninariosbk.com/
Social: @ninarios
10. 84 GEM (Heritage: Jamaica)
84Gem was born in the vibrant rhythms of Jamaica, raised in Brooklyn, NY. In 2011, owner Kimone Young embarked on a journey to create jewelry that expressed her unique style and celebrated her individuality. From her home studio, she weaves stories into each piece, infusing them with the enchanting fusion of Jamaican soul and Brooklyn attitude.
Website: https://84gem.com/
Social: @84gem
11. EARRING ENVY (Heritage: Jamaica)
Earring Envy, the brand, was created by Jamaican-born & raised designer Anyeka Frith. Her designs are inspired by the energy of her former home in St. James, Jamaica, and the vibrations of her current life in Brooklyn, NY. Her mission is to enhance all women's identity, beauty, and purpose to make them stand out. Anyeka uniquely designs high-end fashion jewelry using 18k-24k gold-plated and sterling silver-plated pieces. Her pieces are complimented with various stones and gems and include the highest quality custom-cut cubic zirconia.
Website: https://earringenvy.com/
Social: @earring_envy
12. MARCIA BUDET (Heritage: Puerto Rico)
Puerto Rican jewelry designer Marcia Budet is a University of Pennsylvania-trained architect. She adds a structural feel to her designs, with geometric inlays and shapes. Budet also loves to use gemstones like lemon quartz, citrine, amethyst, onyx and moonstone. This perfectly suits her design motto “elegantly bold,” and her desire to make women feel both feminine and powerful in their jewelry. Her vivid designs certainly captured the attention of the design world, where she won several industry awards, including the Design Center Editor’s Choice Award for “Best in Show.”
Website: https://www.marciabudet.com/
Social: @m
13. MANLUU (Heritage: Martinique)
MANLUU is an American fashion house established in 2021 by Martinican creator and brand architect MoAnA LUU. Born and bred in N.Y.C, the house showcases luxurious, unexpected interpretations of Creole culture. MANLUU by MoAnA Luu, rapidly shot to notoriety with the launch of its jewelry, after superstar Cardi B went viral in a series of pregnancy photos while wearing a sparkling stack of MANLUU bracelets. The brand, known for its signature geometric and woven jewelry designs, has also been worn by stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Mary J. Blige, Issa Rae, Gary Dourdan, and fashion legend Maye Musk.
Website: https://www.manluu.com/
Social: @manluuny
14. MONIQUE PEAN (Heritage: Haiti)
Haitian American Monique Pean has long made waves for her sculptural, organic pieces. The designer attributes her unique style to her childhood exposure to diverse cultures. For each collection, Pean continues to travel to unique destinations, researching regional design and collaborating with local artisans. All materials used are ethically and sustainably sourced, which often leads to unconventional features, like fossilized walrus ivory, recycled metal and dinosaur bone. She is the winner of a prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award in 2011.
Website: https://www.moniquepean.com/
Social: @moniquepean
15. MADE BY MALYIA (Heritage: Jamaica)
Each piece of jewelry from Made by Malyia is familiar yet unexpected, focusing on natural influences to give movement to the lines within the designs. The visionary behind the brand, Malyia, pulls inspiration from nature, travel, African culture, architecture and more to fuse each of these touch points into an innovative piece. All pieces are utterly versatile, using ethically sourced materials.
Website: https://madebymalyia.com/
Social: @madebymalyia
16. AMINA SOREL (Heritage: Haiti)
Established in 2018, Amina Sorel Fine Jewelry was founded to encompass the intersectionality of the arts, culture and jewelry. Amina is a native New Yorker, Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Certified Diamond Expert and Gemologist Graduate. Her travels throughout Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, and the Caribbean provides opportunities to nourish her passion for jewelry design. Amina honed her gemology trade skills, appraisal, and marketing expertise at GIA, FIT, and alongside some of the most iconic Diamantaires and legacies in gemstones and jewelry design.
Website: https://aminasorel.com/
Social: @aminasorel
17. MCKENZIE LIAUTAUD (Heritage: Haiti)
McKenzie Liautau is a NYC- based fine jewelry designer of Haitian heritage who finds inspiration from his travels around the globe.
Website: https://www.mckenzieliautaud.com/
Social: @mckenzieliautaudjewelry)
This list above represents just some of the best and brightest artisans in the jewelry industry. Don’t forget to follow, share and shop these designers.