Jewellery breathes new life into any look, and is always an essential aspect of our daily style. From classic pieces that can be easily stacked to bold statement jewellery beloved by the adventurous, these accessories add a ton of flair without much effort. For example, elevate a simple crop top with textures through multiple gold necklaces in different sizes, a dainty belly chain or even a pair of dangly crystal earrings for that extra pop of colour. But when it comes to looking both stylish and sustainable, which jewellery brands have implemented greener processes to create timeless and beautiful pieces good for both us and planet Earth? Below, BAZAAR rounds up 10 of our favourite eco-conscious jewellery brands on the market today.
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Jewellery doesn’t need to be perfect to exude class, and this British brand embodies that mentality through its collection of talismans with molten textures and fluid shapes. The brand keeps its carbon footprint low by manufacturing pieces within the United Kingdom while using recycled bronze, silver and gold for every component. Alighieri also gives back to the community by raising money for Refuge, the leading UK charity for women and children experiencing domestic abuse.
Dubbed as treasures, Daphine’s collections are made to be timeless and wearable today, tomorrow and beyond. Pieces are handmade in a factory in Jaipur, India with 18-karat gold plating over recycled brass, which is certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council. Collections are also made in small batches to reduce waste, and the brand promises free repairs or replating for jewellery pieces bought within three years of purchase to ensure their longevity.
This brand draws inspiration from the wondrous beauty of nature using silver – a heavily-mined metal in the Americas. Of course, Loveness Lee aims to preserve these vast landscapes by re-using existing silver in pre-loved goods instead of digging for new minerals and potentially destroying ecosystems. The brand provides an aftercare programme to repair any purchase throughout its lifetime and one free polish that can be used anytime.
Founded by a mother and daughter duo in the U.S., Monbouquette taps on art and a sense of playfulness across its designs, which have a patented snapback functionality that allows the wearer to change up the look of each accessory as they wish. All metals used are 100 per cent recycled sterling silver or brass coated with 24-karat gold plating, and all packaging materials are plastic-free, reusable and recyclable.
No muss, no fuss jewellery will always be welcomed by the busy fashionistas on the go, which is something Edge of Ember does very well. Founded by Singaporean Lynette Ong, the brand aims to highlight the exceptional craftsmanship of Asian artisans while reducing the carbon footprint through recycled gold and silver. All diamonds are lab-grown in India and while their creation does take up more energy than their naturally-sourced counterparts, the process purports not to damage communities or perpetuate dangerous mining conditions.
Worn by the likes of Rihanna, Alexandra Hakim is a British-Lebanese jewellery maker who uses her extensive travels and eye for aesthetics to create avant-garde pieces inspired by everyday items like tomato stems, matchsticks and even strawberries. Sustainability has always been a key element for the designer, who uses a signature casting method that repurposes used objects directly into metals so nothing is ever wasted in the process.
From a workshop located in London’s Chelsea, Jessie Thomas and her father – revered master goldsmith, David Thomas – design handmade fine jewellery which uses recycled gold, responsibly-sourced precious stones and ethical diamonds from Botswana. They also provide a bespoke service where clients can opt for antique old cut diamonds as an alternative.
Speaking of diamonds, VRAI is known for its wide range of gleaming rings, necklaces and earrings with guilt-free manmade diamonds. To make its diamonds guilt-free, each stone is crafted from greenhouse gases that crystallised in a foundry in the U.S. The crystallised greenhouse gases can no longer escape into the atmosphere and reflect heat back onto the Earth.
Designing based on trends has its perks, but when overconsumption takes over and the fads pass, pieces often go neglected – something AGMES aims to avoid by creating sculptural jewellery that will stand the test of time. Almost all the materials come from recycled sources and the brand has a zero-waste policy in place where all unused metals are sent back to the suppliers for reuse.
Ethical fashion doesn’t just revolve around recycled materials, low carbon emissions or eco-friendly packaging – the people who help create pieces also need to be taken care of. Leigh Miller’s naturalistic jewellery has evolved by phasing out plating altogether for future collections as the process is hazardous to the environment and the workers who are doing it, protecting employees from unnecessary health risks.
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