Chari Cuthbert

Chari Cuthbert
Born1984
OccupationJewelry designer

Chari Cuthbert is a Jamaican-born, self-taught jewelry designer. Cuthbert is the founder and creative director of the jewelry company ByChari.[1]

Early life and education

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Cuthbert, a West Indian woman, was born in 1984 to Jamaican parents.[2] She graduated from The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale with an Associate of Science Degree in Photography.

ByChari (company)

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Before she founded ByChari in 2012, she moved to Hawaii and later in 2016 to Los Angeles. She started her business with $100 and is its sole owner.[2] Her jewelry was first sold by Owens & Co. in Downtown Honolulu. She started selling her jewelry exclusively on her website when she moved to L.A.[3]

In August 2020, First Lady Michelle Obama wore a necklace designed by Cuthbert for her 2020 Democratic National Convention speech.[4] The Vote necklace[5] went viral during Obama's speech and, according to CNN,[6] was a top-trending search on Google during the last hour of the convention on August 17, 2020.[7][8][9] Cuthbert designed the Vote necklace in 2016[10] and then started marketing it for the 2018 midterm elections. Obama's stylist, Meredith Koop, ordered the Vote necklace for Obama.[11][12]

As of 2021,she had a team of ten female employees[13] working for her in Los Angeles.[9]

Her designs have been worn by Michelle Obama, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Rocky Barnes, Rose Huntington-Whiteley, Aimee Song and Chiara Ferragni.[14]

References

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  1. ^ Robert, Yola. "Meet Chari Cuthbert: The Jewelry Designer Behind Michelle Obama's 'Vote' Necklace". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  2. ^ a b "Jamaican-born Chari Cuthbert is the designer behind Michelle Obama's 'Vote' necklace". www.nycaribnews.com. September 2, 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  3. ^ catherine (2020-08-19). "The Creator of Michelle Obama's 'Vote' Necklace Got Her Start in Hawaiʻi". Hawaii Magazine. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  4. ^ "Michelle Obama 'Vote' Necklace Designer 'Cried' Upon Seeing It In DNC Speech". Mediaite. 2020-08-18. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  5. ^ Dwilson, Stephanie Dube (2020-08-18). "Chari Cuthbert, Obama's Vote Necklace Designer, Founded ByChari in 2012". Heavy.com. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  6. ^ Huber, Eliza. "Michelle Obama's Vote Necklace Is Going Viral — Here's Where You Can Buy It". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  7. ^ "The Designer Behind Michelle Obama's VOTE Necklace Is a Black Woman". Black Enterprise. 2020-08-18. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  8. ^ Kate Bennett (18 August 2020). "Michelle Obama sends a message with her necklace: Vote". CNN. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  9. ^ a b "How Jewelry Startup Founder Chari Cuthbert Shifted Her Company to a Work-From-Home Operation". Time. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  10. ^ Salo, Jackie (2020-08-18). "Designer ByChari slammed with orders for Michelle Obama's 'VOTE' necklace". New York Post. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  11. ^ Andrew Morris (2020-08-18). "Designer of Michelle Obama's 'V-O-T-E' necklace in stirring Democratic National Convention speech: "quite the surprise"". ABC7 San Francisco. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  12. ^ Bryant, Kenzie (18 August 2020). "The Creator of Michelle Obama's "Vote" Necklace Is Making a More Affordable Version". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  13. ^ Connor, Tracy (2020-08-18). "Designer ByChari Deluged With Orders for Michelle Obama's 'Vote' Necklace". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  14. ^ "This Trendsetter Went From $100 to Frosting Kate Hudson". E! Online. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 2020-10-13.