Sustainable Blog Edition #20.
In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we wanted to give you some quality jewelry options that you can get for yourself and your loved ones, whoever that may be:)
Sustainable and ethical jewelry generally circles around three things: thoughtful sourcing, fair wages, and give-back initiatives. We’re about to drop a list of some brands that fit the bill in NYC and LA. Whether it’s sustainably ending cycles of poverty through employment, upholding traditional craft techniques, or sourcing fair-mined gold and other materials, there’s bound to be a brand that matches your values - just keep reading to find it!
1. Bagatiba
Jessie Andrews of Bagatiba has an A–Z sustainability initiative behind a collection containing layerable necklaces and minimal earrings. Her eco-collection is made from recycled metals or pre-produced materials sourced in LA. You can donate your unwanted metal jewelry from any brand for a discount toward your next purchase in effort to support the circulation of upcycling metals in the industry!
2. Soko
Fair trade jewelry brand Soko is based in San Francisco, CA & Kenya, and works with artisan entrepreneurs. They help them to build businesses, improve production capacity, and sustainably increase income. Using Soko’s mobile tools, Kenyan artisans have access to consumers, orders, and payments, and can expand their businesses and entrepreneurial endeavors. They are a certified B Corp too! The collection includes a range of minimal classics and luxury pieces inspired by architecture and traditional tribal designs.
3. The Little Market
For dreamy and dainty jewelry that’s also conflict-free this is the place to check out! All of their pieces are ethically made in Cambodia using traditional techniques. As a nonprofit social enterprise, proceeds support women artisans who receive additional access to skills training and educational opportunities.
4. Catbird
Catbird is a woman-owned and -operated brand that makes their own jewelry entirely in-house at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. They have over 40 fairly paid jewelers and artisans on-site. All of their pieces use recycled gold and conflict-free, responsibly sourced stones. The Catbird Giving Fund donates one percent of all sales to organizations like the ACLU and the Food Bank of New York City.
5. Aurate
Born out of NYC, Aurate crafts gold jewelry made with 100 percent recycled gold! The sustainable pieces are inspired by NYC icons-how cool is that? Crafted by seventh-generation craftspeople, we think you’ll love wearing and supporting this brand.
6. Accompany
This. NYC-based brand bridges the gap between artisan-made jewelry and direct-to-consumer needs with an easily accessible platform. The company teams up with brands like Soko and Makua! You can shop pieces from Indigenous communities and jewelry made from responsibly sourced materials (like Colombian wood). Another Certified B Corp, it is a socially conscious platform that believes in one-of-a-kind accessories.