New Orleans jeweler Mignon Faget, whose brand identity is deeply connected to the soul of its hometown’s culture, is marking the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with two new pieces that serve as both talisman and tribute.
Dubbed Beyond Katrina, the small collection—a pendant and a pin, both available in 14k yellow gold or silver—honors how the people and city of New Orleans pushed on into a new era of rebirth despite the unimaginable damage left in the hurricane’s wake, and reminds us of the storm and its significance.
Mignon Faget channeled its Legacy collection in creating the Beyond Katrina jewels, “melding architectural motifs, fleur-de-lis forms, and organic curves reminiscent of wrought iron and Gulf Coast flora,” as the brand described them.
“These elements are artistically intertwined, much like Katrina itself has become interwoven into the collective memory and identity of the community,” the company statement said.
Hurricane Katrina flooded more than three-quarters of New Orleans and caused an estimated 1,500 fatalities after it made landfall near the city on Aug. 29, 2005. It still ranks as the costliest hurricane in U.S. history in terms of dollar damage.
“Hurricane Katrina impacted the brand in profound ways,” Mignon Faget CEO Maghan Oroszi tells JCK. “Every member of our team lived and worked along the Gulf Coast, and nearly all were personally affected by the storm’s devastation. While our head office and production studio were spared, several storefronts sustained damage, and we were unable to resume normal operations for some time.
“Still, that didn’t stop us from staying connected with our customers. Our founder Mignon Faget was deeply rooted in the New Orleans community and actively involved in the city’s restoration, ensuring that we, as a brand, played our part in helping our neighbors in their time of need. Through specially created commemorative designs, proceeds were donated directly to support recovery efforts—strengthening our bond with our cherished collectors and affirming our shared resilience.”
I remember where I was when I heard the news about an incoming storm they had named Katrina—in the waiting room of the campus health clinic (I can’t remember why I was there). It was the beginning of my second year in college in North Carolina, in a coastal town that has seen plenty of damage during hurricane season. But it would never see anything like this.
On the waiting-room television, the news warned of a strengthening storm, which had already hit Florida and was now moving rapidly along the Gulf Coast. The forecaster cited New Orleans as one particular place of concern, its levees not thought to be able to sustain the massive storm surge coming its way. My fragile teenage heart felt broken—I had yet to visit New Orleans, but its preserved culture, the way it seemed to stand alone in that respect from other places around the country, called to me (I would later visit again and again, and it would turn out to be everything I had hoped for and more.)
They say the National Weather Service’s Katrina alert is one of the most chilling weather statements ever heard: “Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks…perhaps longer. At least one half of well-constructed homes will have roof and wall failure. All gabled roofs will fail…leaving those homes severely damaged or destroyed. The majority of industrial buildings will become nonfunctional. Partial to complete wall and roof failure is expected.
“All wood-framed low-rising apartment buildings will be destroyed. Concrete block low-rise apartments will sustain major damage…including some wall and roof failure. High-rise office and apartment buildings will sway dangerously…a few to the point of total collapse. All windows will blow out.
“Airborne debris will be widespread…and may include heavy items such as household appliances and even light vehicles. Sport utility vehicles and light trucks will be moved. The blown debris will create additional destruction. Persons…pets…and livestock exposed to the winds will face certain death if struck.”
And that’s not even the whole announcement.
“Though the memory of Katrina will always be part of our story,” Orsozi says, “what stands out most today is how much the city has grown, rebuilt, and flourished in the years since. New Orleans is as vibrant and creative as ever, and our business has evolved right alongside it—adapting, innovating, and deepening our connection to the community.
“In many ways, the resilience forged during that time continues to inspire us daily, reminding us of the strength we share with our city and the beauty that can emerge from even the most challenging chapters,” she adds. “There is a collective, very special bond between New Orleanians that was strengthened after the storm in a way that has become unbreakable.”
Top: Beyond Katrina pendant in 14k yellow gold, $1,023; Mignon Faget
- Subscribe to the JCK News Daily
- Subscribe to the JCK Special Report
- Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
- Follow JCK on X: @jckmagazine
- Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
