Sustainable Design Ethics
Transparency. Traceability. Respect.
How has your lifestyle shifted in recent years? Do you drive less, reduce your waste, go paperless, eat local? What kinds of questions do you ask before making a purchase now that you didn't used to ask? Whether you've been living this way for decades or just started to make these changes, I'm sure you feel how you are part of the momentum of this change in human awareness and behaviors.
I believe that the green movement and the shift toward living a more sustainable and socially-conscious lifestyle will be the trends that come to define our era to later generations. And it is the responsibility of artists, engineers, and designers in all industries to define what these trends looks like, aesthetically speaking.
It's also our responsibility to talk to our customers about what we make and how we make it. The truth of going green is that there isn't always a perfect solution or alternative to the old way of doing things - this is true of jewelry as well.
I want to be completely honest and transparent with you about what goes into the jewelry you are buying from me.
My approach to sourcing my materials is to find the best possible option and ask as many questions as possible. If I don’t know of a sustainable option for a raw material or production technique, you can be sure I am working on finding or creating one. And if I don't have a sustainable source for a material you want in a custom piece, I want to have a conversation about what your options are so you can weigh the impact and choose for yourself.
I don’t want to greenwash you. I don't want to shame you or preach. I want us to engage in a dialogue that helps us both learn.
Together, I want to continually ask, how can we do better?
What I Do
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All of my gold and silver is recycled, not newly mined. The only exception to that is that I am also proudly licensed to buy Fairmined gold, which can be incorporated into any custom design or substituted for regular gold in most pieces in my collections upon request. Contact me to find out more.
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I follow green studio practices, limiting waste, using less-toxic alternatives to traditional chemical solutions necessary to the jewelry-making process, and avoiding manufacturing processes that require heavy use of toxic chemicals whenever possible. My products are all handcrafted on a “small batch” artisanal scale in my Oregon studio, never sent over seas or assembled in large factories.
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I seek out ethically-sourced materials for all of my designs including vintage and post-consumer diamonds, traceable conflict-free gems, and deadstock or vintage lots of stones and other materials. I seek out suppliers who source their goods directly and responsibly and I only do business with vendors who are prepared to answer all of my questions about their supply chain and business practices.
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I use eco-friendly jewelry packaging and promotional materials whenever possible and generally try to reduce my footprint wherever I can.
What YOU Can Do
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Ask questions before you buy! Always ask where your jewelry comes from! Asking questions when you buy jewelry encourages retailers and manufacturers to ask questions of their suppliers. It’s a chain all the way back to the source and you, the consumer, play an important part by creating demand for better practices and accountability.
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Learn more! There are many layers to the complex issues surrounding precious metal and gem mining and trade. There are no easy answers but the good news is that there are a growing number of jewelry designers, manufacturers, and organizations working creatively to come up with solutions. Here are some helpful links and articles to help you better understand the problems within the industry and some of the changes that are already afoot:
