Diamonds Do Good, a non-profit grant-making organisation, has launched a new signature bracelet in collaboration with model and entrepreneur Flaviana Matata. The bracelet's proceeds will go toward education and entrepreneurship training for young girls in Tanzania, where Flaviana was born and raised. Only Natural Diamonds was present behind the scenes at the new bracelet campaign photoshoot with Flaviana, fellow model Nicola Breytenbach, and renowned photographer Anthony Friend.
Flaviana called the collaboration with Diamonds Do Good a "no-brainer." Flaviana has long been a goodwill ambassador for Diamonds Do Good. DDG has been a consistent supporter of her charitable organisation, The Flaviana Matata Foundation, which works to "empower girls through education." She decided to use her platform for good after becoming a model, focusing on girls because "in underserved communities, families prioritise the education of boys, and girls are left behind." I simply wanted to open doors for them. "My community has given me so much, and I just wanted to give back," Flaviana says.
The Flaviana Matata Foundation aims to create a circle of success in the lives of those it touches. "The girls the foundation puts through college will come back to their community and help other girls get the same opportunity," Flaviana explains. At the photo shoot, photographer Anthony Friend explains how he used clay to "paint" the bodies of both models, resulting in the stunning images that comprise the campaign. "As an African photographer, I use clay to symbolise my roots," Anthony explained. Clay is a beautiful tool to tie it all together in this shoot, working with two African models on a project benefiting African education."
Gloria Batlle of Onirikka Fine Jewelry in El Salvador designed the bracelet. It was chosen as part of a one-of-a-kind initiative in which designers from all over the world were invited to submit designs for a new bracelet that would represent the organisation. The bracelet's genderless appeal and encouraging message of "Growth, Unity, and Equality" made it an ideal choice. The bracelet is made of matte onyx beads accented with four black diamonds evenly placed as a symbol of unity and equality; a green tsavorite gem represents life and rebirth on the pulse point, and a champagne colour diamond represents the light within us. "Everything is unified for me." Gloria says, "The more love we give, the more good we do, the more light we project."
The bracelet costs $129.00, and $20 from every purchase benefits the Flaviana Matata Foundation, which supports education and entrepreneurship training for young girls to help them become self-sufficient leaders in their communities. The diamond bracelet is a simple way to give directly back to the community while also wearing a beautiful piece of jewellery to show your support. Greenwich St. Jewelers, Hamilton Jewelers, and Jared were among the first to stock the bracelet. The website of Diamonds Do Good includes a store locator for all participating retailers. "All retailers are encouraged to participate in this consumer confidence-building initiative, which connects consumers with a tangible way to give back and demonstrate that Diamonds Truly Do Good," says Diamonds Do Good Executive Director Nancy Orem Lyman. Starting at the end of October, the Diamonds Do Good Bracelet will be available online and in stores across the country.
