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This jewelry maker says Trump’s tariffs are all up in his business – literally

By Myra Flynn
Published May 8, 2025 at 5:28 PM EDT

Aman Itomi makes big, bold and noticeable jewelry worn by celebrities and gracing the covers of magazines. His nickname in his community of makers is “The Basquiat of metal.” But now Aman is bracing for uncertainty and scarcity as Trump’s tariffs on metals go into effect — again. In this episode, Aman shares how he’s preparing.

This is the latest episode of Homegoings, a podcast that features fearless conversations about race, and YOU are welcome here. Follow the show here.

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“You ever hear of a starving artist? I'm an artist. I don't think I'm ever going to be rich off of this, you know? So it's definitely a labor of love.” - Aman Itomi
Photo: Aman Itomi
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Graphic: Elodie Reed
“You ever hear of a starving artist? I'm an artist. I don't think I'm ever going to be rich off of this, you know? So it's definitely a labor of love.” - Aman Itomi

Aman Itomi is not boastful, even though his life is something worth bragging about. Aman makes precious jewelry, and many of his pieces have been worn by celebrities. His work has even graced the cover of Time magazine. His nickname in the jewelry world is the “Basquiat of metal.”

Aman makes custom jewelry, from sourcing to design to crafting.
Myra Flynn
/
Vermont Public
Aman makes custom jewelry, from sourcing materials to design to crafting.

But when you talk to Aman, he doesn’t bring any of this up. He’d rather let you know the kind of recent chemical he’s working with to polish his silver. And that’s because day in and day out Aman keeps his nose to the grindstone at his home in the valley, in southern California. He is constantly cranking our pieces of beautiful jewelry that he’s hand-cut, hand-crafted and hand-wrought by, well – his own two hands.

Aman’s pieces are one of a kind, built by hand.
Myra Flynn
/
Vermont Public
Aman’s pieces are one of a kind, built by hand.

And those hands are now being tied by Trump’s tariff war. Needless to say, Aman’s been doing a little “doomsday” prepping.

I don't know who's running things. I don't know the empathy level. I don't know the caring level. But we're all human and we just want to live a good life while we’re here. And this is definitely affecting it, you know? - Aman Itomi

‘I think that's the thing that's going to help me get through these hard times is my own two hands. I can bring it from idea into reality without a team to do it.’ - Aman Itomi
Myra Flynn
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Courtesy
‘I think that's the thing that's going to help me get through these hard times is my own two hands. I can bring it from idea into reality without a team to do it.’ - Aman Itomi

Credits

This episode was hosted and reported by Myra Flynn and mixed by associate producer James Stewart. Aaron Edwards was our story editor and Mike Dunn our producer and director. Myra composed the theme music with other music by Aman Itomi and Blue Dot Sessions. Elodie Reed is the graphic artist behind this episode’s Homegoings artist portrait.

Thank you for listening. You can see a video version of this episode on our YouTube Channel.

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Homegoings New England News Collaborative
Myra Flynn
Myra Flynn worked for Vermont Public from 2021 to 2026 and served as the Host and Executive Producer of Homegoings.
See stories by Myra Flynn