A Gem of an Idea to Support Survivors

Kamaria founders Kristen Malinowski and Ellie Clougherty Kamaria bracelets

By Leonard Shapiro

They are cousins, best friends and business partners. But Kristen Malinowski and Ellie Clougherty also share one clearly unwanted bond—they are both survivors of sexual abuse on their respective college campuses. And now, they’re trying to help young women with similar traumatizing experiences.

Four years ago, they started a jewelry business called Kamaria, which means “moonlight” in Swahili. A year later, they decided to form a nonprofit called “Restore Dignity,” specifically to aid other victims.

“The idea is that even in the dark of night, the moon provides a beacon of light and hope,” Malinowski said. “Like the moon, even in the darkest times, you too can reflect light.” And the moon-related motto of Kamaria is “Be the light that changes the tides.”

Both women also became activists in the movement to help prevent campus assaults, and began making pieces for some of their fellow survivors.

They eventually decided perhaps designing and selling jewelry was in their future. They both spent time as apprentices working in New York’s diamond district to further improve their skills, and also travelled abroad to find sources for their basic materials—gemstones, chains, settings.

Both women are now based in Vienna in Fairfax County and several local Middleburg shops are carrying their reasonably priced creations, mostly in the range of $60 to $120—including Lou Lou Boutiques and Nature Composed. Mystique Jewelers is also carrying their fine collection made with gold and diamonds.

Northern Virginia is their main market and 10 percent of their profits from the jewelry go directly to their foundation, which offers financial assistance to students who had similar life-altering experiences.

“We decided to create Restore Dignity to provide direct support for survivors and whatever they might need,” Malinowski said, adding that her mother Anne handles the nonprofit and she and her cousin the jewelry business “They apply and tell us how we can help. It could be tuition assistance, medical help, paying the rent so they can stay in school and continue their education.”

Ironically, the current COVID pandemic “has been an interesting time because student survivors can take courses online, which is something many students request after trauma,” Malinowski said.

“It’s also been a great time for our mission as more attention is being focused on human dignity,” Clougherty added.

So far, Restore Dignity has helped more then 20 young women, with the average assistance between $1,000 and $1,500. Most funds come directly from the jewelry business. To donate directly, go to www. RestoreDignity.com.

Their studio is located in Vienna and they design everything. They personally create about 25 percent of the pieces, outsourcing the rest to a network of skilled crafts people. Among their more popular pieces are butterfly designs for necklaces and earrings.

“The butterfly stands for rebirth, transformation and hope,” said Malinowski.

The women say their business is growing, with an increasing number of boutiques both locally, nationally and abroad displaying their work as word gets around on their quality, and the good cause they’re funding.

A chance meeting with Lou Lou owner Tara Wegdam at a New York trade show led to their jewelry being sold at her Middleburg shop. They also did a trunk show at one Lou Lou location in Fairfax and “they’ve done a really nice job with it,” Wegdam said.

Both Malinowski and Clougherty emphasized their sole mission has nothing to do with the perpetrators of the assaults. They focus solely on helping young women who, like them, were victimized.

“We work with undergraduates and graduate students,” Clougherty said. “We want to help protect their present, and their future.”