Tiffany Atrium Supports Derrick Adams' The Last Resort Artists Retreat in Baltimore AOC The Wokes [Updated on Sept. 19, 2022]

Tiffany & Co. has introduced Tiffany Atrium, a social impact platform that advances opportunities for historically underrepresented communities in the fine jewelry and creative fields. Tiffany’s parent company LVMH has taken a strong position on its change-agent obligations in a post-George Floyd world.

Many companies in the fashion and design industry have accepted the challenge of increasing the numbers of diverse creatives and artisans in its ranks. The LVMH luxury brands are big leaders in this initiative and Tiffany & Co is perfectly positioned to carry this mantle forward with purpose and agency, having championed key initiatives like animal conservation and ethical jewelry making for years.

Tiffany & Co. understands that this work requires commitment, leadership, and learning—all of which is reflected in Atrium’s three core pillars: creativity, education and community.

Tiffany & Co and Derrick Adams

Seeking to help supporters and Tiffany & Co. clients visualize the new Atrium concept, the iconic American jeweler reached out to artist Derrick Adams, who created an original artwork called “I Shine, You Shine, We Shine” for the Atrium launch.

The Atrium project will live on Artsy, the world’s largest online art marketplace. Derek Adams’ work reflects how people of African descent interact with art, American history and consumerism. “I shine, You shine, We Shine” will be auctioned by Artsy in an auction closing August 10.

The current bid for the artwork is $40,000 against an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000. The platform launch event included a chat between Adams and Everett Taylor, Executive Director of Marketing at Artsy, to discuss the inspiration for his artwork, collaboration with Tiffany & Co., and expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities.

100% of profits from the sale of “I Shine, You Shine, We Shine” is going to The Last Resort Artist Retreat, an art residency program that Adams founded in his home city of Baltimore, Maryland.

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Images: [left] Baltimore-born, Brooklyn artist Derrick Adams, founder The Last Resort Artist Retreat; [right] Baltimore-based Thomas James, Exec Director The Last Resort Artist Retreat

Tiffany & Co Apprenticeship Program

As a part of Tiffany’s inclusivity mission, the house will be launching an apprenticeship program that focuses on recruiting diverse and historically underrepresented communities. The jewelry brand will also be partnering with the Shawn Carter Foundation, BeyGood, and Harlem's Fashion Row to support fashion and art programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Some of Tiffany’s preexisting DEI programs have now been recategorized under the Atrium umbrella. This includes last summer’s announcement of the About Love Scholarship, which allocated $2 million to historically Black colleges and universities.

Now housed under Atrium, Tiffany will “amplify” this initiative with added tangible support. The American jewelry brand will take in eight apprentices each year for a two-year course at its facilities, with the intent to place most apprentices in a full-time job at Tiffany following their training.

Atrium is spearheaded by Tiffany chief human resources officer Mary Bellai, with additional support and guidance provided by chief executive officer Anthony Ledru.

“In addition to the scholarship itself, we know that HBCU’s host career readiness days and we will have our employee resource groups be mentors there. That’s the difference of taking something we have done already and amplifying it to make it more impactful,” Bellai said.

Note that Jay-Z sold exactly half of his Armand de Brignac brand champagne company, aka ‘Ace of Spades’, to LVMH in early 2021. The collab is the first time that Bernard Arnault ever agreed to a 50-50 partnership, knowing that it could be a test case in unleashing new creative business energies when neither party has the upper hand in the relationship.

Mr. and Mrs. Carter are both ambassadors for Tiffany & Co.

If only Louis Vuitton Men’s former creative director Virgil Abloh were alive, he would be so happy with this new Atrium project at Tiffany & Company. Of course, AOC believes that Virgil is deeply aware of this Tiffany & Co initiative and regularly contributes his ideas to the development of Atrium with his spirit presence in our lives.