PAGE
Stepping off the elevator of a classic SoHo building off-Broadway and I entered an austere hallway several stories above the ground floor. To the left, I saw an opening in the wall and while walking through it, I am consumed by the large studio-style office of Jerry Media.
This is where Blakely Thornton operates as a marketer for the famous, Fuck Jerry, and as CiViL Jewelry CEO, his vision for a luxury brand that everyone can participate in.
Photographed by Cassell Ferere
Busily buzzing, Blakely found time out of his hectic day to sit down with the Hub. Flying back and forth through the office, the CiViL Jewelry CEO finally sat on the couch for our discussion to talk about jewels like lab grown diamonds.
PURE ADOLESCENT
Blakely is naturally energized by his daily task conducting business. And as a queer kid from Dallas, he found his way to the big apple in search of a bigger outlet to the world and as a catalyst for minorities with dreams.
Thornton studied finance in at U. Penn where he also played football and was your typical A-type. His prep school days may have shaped him up to be this way, but in particular, Blakely was just one to stand out so he was tuned to the nuances of marketing.
Being a black kid at a Dallas Prep school was evident to his peers but also being a queer kid made more of an impact socially. He was the first gay person for a lot of his fellow students and one who โwasnโt sassy,โ as Blakely puts it.
The lack of diversity informed his urge to see minorities in power at brands and tech companies, as decision-makers. As he grew, learning the markup on jewelry and a yearning to democratize luxury, Blakely sought to invest in people of color who are underrepresented.
THE BUILDING BLOCKS
Blakelyโs experience at Fuck Jerry helped him understand how an agency works, branding and content creation. There he saw how an audience can be monetized and distributed. He also worked at Ralph Lauren where he learned the details associated with the luxury market, from shoes and bags to fine watches made in Switzerland.
Ultimately he learned to market brands to people and elicit a reaction.
His new role as Founder and CiViL Jewelry CEO is the synergy of all his previous professional lives. And knowing what he does is what is pushing CiViL forward in 2021...