Social Life MAY 2018
celebrating 15 years of print
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JEWELRY
JOAN HORNIG THE ART OF PHILANTHROPY By Krista Norris
J
oan Hornig is a philanthropist who gives back through jewelry design. She launched her original collection at Bergdorf Goodman, and she’s now adding to her line with her latest collection, Pavé the Way. An interview is below. You have two philanthropic jewelry collections, Joan Hornig Jewelry and Pavé the Way. Tell us a bit about Pavé the Way and why you started it? When I began 15 years ago, my goal was to produce all of the designs in New York City, create one-of-a-kind pieces, and build a brand known for accessing the power of the purse to promote the non-profits that the women who bought my jewelry cared most about supporting. With the help of such an elite retailer known for curating, I was given a platform to build a discerning and charitable clientele and be introduced to editors, international shoppers, and influencers. After the brick and mortar destinations changed to a robust internet platform, I decided to develop my e-commerce site, joanhornig.com; work more closely with non-profits that wanted salon/trunk show events; and house my designer signature line in the Museum of Art and Design (MAD) store at Columbus Circle, which draws a large and ever-changing crowd of visitors. This had the added benefits of ensuring that all purchases support the museum’s education efforts and keeping true to my commitment to having the purchaser determine where I donate 100 percent of the profit. A win-win scenario! Simultaneously, I wanted a line that would appeal to a broader spectrum of would-be philanthropists. With the help of Amazon in Europe, I created a collection of messaged jewelry made from sterling silver, 23k vermeil, and ethically sourced diamonds, at prices that are gift friendly yet aspirational and meaningful. The appeal of the Pavé the Way line has been extraordinary. What started with a gold-and-diamond vermeil microphone to amplify the voices of women who have been unable to speak up for themselves — its $365 price references the daily commitment to reach equality — garnered the attention I had dreamed of. For example, The Female Quotient, and its Girls’ Lounges held around the globe, joined me to make a statement and make a difference. Social Life
JEWELRY
Introduced at the Cannes Film Festival this spring, the Pavé the Way line is also available on pave-the-way.com, thefemalequotient.com, and at the MAD store. What causes or organizations are especially important to you? I have as my business model being an agnostic donor, trusting the purchasers to direct my charitable dollars, so my favorite non-profit and the piece that generated the donation are always determined by the last piece of jewelry sold and the charity selected. Why do you think giving back through philanthropy is so important right now? Communication through technology has made all of us citizens of the world. We are able to know more and react more quickly to needs. We also learn from the younger generation and their familiarity with disseminating information through mobile devices has spread to include all of us. Information is power, and an audience’s response to a call for action has increased. It has become contagious and easier to get involved, and it feels good and empowering. SocialLifeMagazine.com
You spent 20 years on Wall Street before being on the boards of the Museum of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology. What drew you to the jewelry industry as your platform for philanthropy? Most women love jewelry, whether or not they collect it. It has sentimental value, artistic value, and investment value. It is often passed down from generation to generation for these reasons. It is noticed by other women and commented upon, making it an excellent conversation starter and an ideal opening to talk about what non-profit it also supported. From a business vantage point, I was also drawn to using jewelry because first, I love it; second, it takes very little storage space compared to other things; third, it comes alive when worn; and fourth, there is residual value in the raw materials, mitigating my financial risk if something doesn’t sell; and fifth, I predicted that my designs would more and more become a self-purchase consumer good, and I wanted to be early in catching that trend. To shop and give back, visit: joanhornig.com pave-the-way.com