Sidney Garber Makes Its Debut as the 2025 Swan Ball Jeweler

For over six decades, the Swan Ball has stood out among nonprofit events as a symbol of elegance and refinement. The ball is a stunning pageantry of high design, and the partners who support events leading up to the fashionable evening help elevate the mystique. Each year, Swan Ball organizers invite a prestigious jeweler to join the revelry, and this year, co-chairs Melanie Baker and Laura Niewold have invited jewelry brand Sidney Garber, headed by second-generation jeweler Brooke Garber Neidich, to make its debut as the Swan Ball’s official jeweler.  

History

In 1946, after serving in World War II, a young Sidney Garber returned to his hometown of Chicago. Sidney, the son of a watchmaker, decided to remain in the family business. He initially found work piecing together watches. But because of his discerning eye for style, customers were soon asking him to find special pieces, like engagement rings or strings of pearls.

Soon, Sidney opened a boutique on Chicago’s vibrant Jewelers Row — filling the store with items from New York jewelers. He eventually moved the store to Michigan Avenue. The secret of his success was his insistence on quality: Only the best materials should be used, and only top master craftsmen should work on each piece. His daughter Brooke would accompany him on visits to the ateliers of Europe — again, with the mission to seek out the best pieces and designs.

Legacy

In 2008, Brooke inherited the business, moved it to New York, and added designs with a more casual sense of style and sophistication. Her pieces are worn by celebrities on the red carpet and are staples in many customers’ everyday-wear collections. 

Like her father before her, Brooke sources the best of the best, seeking out the top cutters, designers and materials to create her unique collection. 

The company donates a portion of profits to charities supporting the arts and children’s mental health initiatives.  “[Philantropy] is so close to my heart, and it’s pivotal to Sidney Garber’s identity,” Brooke says. “I feel very fortunate to be able to give my profits to causes that are meaningful to me: children’s mental health, the arts, racial justice, women’s reproductive rights, and ending gun violence. I also believe that this speaks to the soul of Sidney Garber, the business, and Sidney Garber, the man. ” 

Swan Ball

Nashville’s Swan Ball — one of the few remaining charity white-tie galas in the Southeast — has a vibrant and luxurious history. Every year, the first Saturday in June is reserved for the glittering event. Black cars snake up the drive to the gala’s grand entrance. Inside, ladies and gentlemen enjoy an evening dedicated to supporting the Nashville community. As partygoers traverse the rooms, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in hand, many stop by the expansive jewelry display just to look, but often wind up making purchases, all for a good cause — this year’s Swan Ball will benefit Friends of Warner Parks.

Co-chairs Melanie Baker and Laura Niewold sought out Sidney Garber specifically for this year's ball. “Sidney Garber Fine Jewelry embodies the perfect blend of modern elegance and meaningful impact, making it the ideal choice as our 2025 Swan Ball jeweler,” Melanie says. “Under the leadership of owner and creative director Brooke Garber, the brand’s exquisite designs have graced celebrities around the world. Yet what truly sets Sidney Garber apart is its profound commitment to philanthropy — since 2013, Brooke has donated 100% of the company’s profits to causes that enhance communities globally. This dedication to both beauty and benevolence aligns seamlessly with the mission of Swan Ball, making Sidney Garber an inspiring partner for this year’s ball!”