Kering Opens Entries for Second Kering Generation Award x Jewelry Emphasizing Sustainability

Kering opened entries in early February for the second edition of the Kering Generation Award x Jewelry, reaffirming the inaugural edition’s theme “Second Chance, First Choice” and calling on students and start-ups to submit projects that reduce the jewelry industry’s environmental footprint. Kering published a press release dated 02/10/2026 outlining a brief that spans new materials, artificial intelligence, packaging, retail technologies and related processes.

The program is run in collaboration with the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) and Poli.Design at Politecnico di Milano, with Politecnico di Milano named as the scientific coordinator. Gaetano Cavalieri, president of CIBJO, said, “In today’s world, the jewelry we produce must reflect society’s concern for environmental and social awareness, enhanced through the innovative use of new technologies and knowledge in a circular economy. The Kering Generation x Jewelry award celebrates this movement.”

Kering’s announcement specifies two entry tracks: students, mentored by professors at participating academic programs, and start-ups with existing products, technologies or services in the jewelry sector. The press materials state that the Award involves 10 world-renowned universities and academies offering jewelry and sustainability courses; students are asked to design a jewel that transforms discarded materials into valuable pieces, while start-ups must present proven solutions aligned with the “Second Chance, First Choice” brief. Alba Cappellieri, Head of Jewelry at Politecnico di Milano and scientific coordinator of the Award, said, “With its second edition, the ‘Kering Generation Award X Jewelry’ renews its commitment to identifying a vital point of convergence between innovation, sustainability, transmission and design excellence. By engaging young creatives from leading international academic institutions and emerging entrepreneurial ventures, the initiative positions itself as a space for collaboration and experimentation, dedicated to fostering new ideas and responsible approaches for the future. We invite students and startups to take part in this inspiring journey, to shape together a new, conscious generation within the global jewelry landscape.”

Finalists will present their projects to a jury during Paris Haute Couture - Couture Week in July 2026, where winners will receive targeted post-award support. The student category winner will be offered an opportunity to intern at one of Kering’s jewellers: Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo and Qeelin. The start-up winner will receive mentorship from POLI.design. Marie-Claire Daveu, Kering’s chief sustainability and institutional affairs officer, said, “The success of the inaugural [edition] showed us just how many emerging leaders are eager to drive change and redefine sustainable jewelry,” underscoring the group’s intent to link ideas with industry pathways.

Kering first announced the jewelry edition as a project launched in November 2024 and staged the inaugural jewelry edition at JCK Las Vegas in 2025; the Generation Award framework itself began in 2018 and has since seen rollouts in other markets. Key application details remain to be published by Kering, including the entry deadline and the full list of the 10 participating universities. For press inquiries, contact Emmanuelle Picard-Deyme at +33 06 20 38 58 95 or emmanuelle.picard-deyme@kering.com. Finalist presentations and the July 2026 timetable will determine which projects move from prototype and concept toward mentorship and real-world implementation within Kering’s jewellers and POLI.design.