By Contributor,Pooja Shah

Copyright forbes

KHIRY Partners with J.Crew for Jewelry Capsule Collection available now to shop.

In the rich tapestry of African jewelry traditions, ornamental pieces served as more than mere decoration, but were symbols of status, vessels of cultural identity, and practical insurance policies during turbulent times. Ancient African civilizations crafted intricate gold work, elaborate beadwork, and sculptural metalwork that told stories of lineage, power, and spiritual beliefs. This profound heritage finds contemporary expression in KHIRY, the Afrofuturist jewelry brand that has captured the attention of style icons from Michelle Obama to Solange Knowles.

Founded in 2016 to employ the conventions of luxury fashion to make pointed statements about the value of black life and culture, KHIRY represents the vision of Jameel Mohammed, a self-taught designer whose artistic journey began with a transformative shopping trip to J.Crew alongside his fashionable Aunt Sharon. That formative experience with colors, lines, textures, and silhouettes opened his eyes to artful dressing and sparked a confidence that would define his creative trajectory.

Founder Jameel Mohammed discusses how his family’s support and love for artistic exploration inspired KHIRY’s collaboration with J. Crew.

KHIRY’s Vision Embodies Luxury Legacy

Now, this full-circle moment materializes in the KHIRY x J.Crew collaboration—a capsule collection features sculptural earrings, rings, necklaces, and cuff bracelets that are inspired by the beauty and heritage of the African diaspora. The six-piece collection channels the beauty, art, heritage, and culture of the African diaspora through Mohammed’s signature design language, offering a fresh perspective on luxury jewelry that bridges tradition and innovation.

At the heart of this collaboration lies KHIRY’s distinctive Talon silhouette, a motif that Mohammed describes as capturing “the duality of Black life: its fullness and leanness, its softness and sharpness.” “The collection revolves around the talon silhouette, a motif first introduced to the brand in our Collection 003, Fights Flights and Fantasies,” Mohammed tells Forbes in an interview.

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The two-talon necklace with pavé crystal orb is made from gold-plated recycled brass, glass, cubic zirconia, and leather.
Jameel Mohammed

The KHIRY x J.Crew Partnership Proves Designs Can Be Timeless

This design philosophy reflects a deeper mission. “Underlying KHIRY’s core mission is a belief that Black people and culture deserve to be wherever we want to be, in complete fullness and without shame,” Mohammed explains. The partnership with J.Crew holds special significance, as he notes: “J.Crew is a brand that has made space for me to feel fully empowered and embodied, and to feel capable of authoring my own notion of style and experience in the world.”

The collaboration also represents Mohammed’s commitment to using his artistry to strengthen personal connections rather than create distance. In a meaningful gesture, he worked with his Aunt Sharon on the campaign shoot. “It’s incredibly satisfying and meaningful to me to have been able to work with my aunt on this shoot,” he reflects. “This also marks the start of using my artistic work to connect deeper with the folks I already know and love.”

The KHIRY x J.Crew collection showcases six sculptural jewelry pieces that embody Mohammed’s multidisciplinary artistry.

Mohammed’s journey as a largely self-taught jewelry designer exemplifies what he sees as a common thread in a lot of Black creativity worldwide and throughout time. “While trying new things can be intimidating, I’m always undergirded by my family’s early and consistent insistence that I can do anything I’m willing to work for. I’m a largely self-taught jewelry designer, and the same is true for the other art forms I practice,” he adds. This autodidactic approach, supported by his family’s unwavering belief in his potential, has led to recognition as a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund alumnus and recent winner of the Tiffany & Co. and CFDA Jewelry Designer Award.

The partnership between KHIRY and J.Crew represents a dialogue between two brands committed to timeless design. As Mohammed notes, both KHIRY and J.Crew are “regularly called timeless design,” sharing “a sort of universal appeal.” However, KHIRY’s contribution expands J.Crew’s narrative by demonstrating that objects with that degree of resolve can come just as readily from deep meditations on Black life and culture. “Our beauty is just as honed by time and just as universal.”

Through this collaboration, KHIRY continues to honor the rich jewelry traditions of the African diaspora while creating forward-looking pieces that speak to contemporary luxury. Each sculptural piece serves as a bridge between ancient African artisanship and modern American style, proving that heritage and innovation can coexist beautifully in the hands of a visionary designer.

The KHIRY x J.Crew collection will be available at select J.Crew stores and online at jcrew.com with prices ranging from $49.50 – $178.00.

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