VALUES
I passionately believe in making beautiful jewellery with ethical integrity. Precious metal and gemstone jewellery is one of our most highly prized possessions. But the source of this jewellery is often much less appealing. The gold and gemstone industries are unregulated and exploitation is common. I want to play a part in changing that. I work hard to make sure that my practices are as ethical and green as possible. Here's an outline of how I do this:
METALS - Where possible the the gold and silver I use are recycled. This means that they are not mined or obtained from the drilling process. The production of one gold ring from mined metal can produce 5 tonnes of environmental waste and often requires the use of dangerous chemicals like cyanide and mercury. These chemicals contaminate the water surrounding the mine posing a huge danger to the people and animals living there. Using recycled metals bypasses this process.
GEMSTONES - I always try to source my gemstones from suppliers who have received assurances that stones are responsibly mined and that economic justice is delivered to all people involved in the stones' extraction and production. Workers should have access to a safe workplace, healthcare and a fair wage.
GREEN PRACTICES - The packaging and promotional materials I use are, wherever possible, made from recycled materials. From business cards to padded envelopes - it can all be reused or recycled once it has done its job! I make my workshop practices as eco-friendly as possible by recycling and reusing consumable materials wherever I can.