Doing well... Doing Good
A growing number of jewelry companies, both retailers and brands/designers are featuring more than just beautiful jewels. They also feature beautiful thoughts and actions by their support of charitable causes around the globe. Here are six examples of people who are giving back to the global community in various ways.
By Cynthia Unninayar
By Cynthia Unninayar
TOBY POMEROY
Going back to the source of the jewelry supply is one of the crusades of Toby Pomeroy. For more than a decade, Toby Pomeroy has been advocating for, and taking action in, clean gold projects. With mercury pollution and contamination a serious threat to millions of small miners around the globe, the company is promoting the Mercury Free Mining Challenge, whose mission is to remove mercury from artisanal mining. Because this toxic metal is used in separating gold from its ore, the challenge is to find an environmentally friendly and affordable means of separation that does not involve mercury. (tobypomeroy.com)
Going back to the source of the jewelry supply is one of the crusades of Toby Pomeroy. For more than a decade, Toby Pomeroy has been advocating for, and taking action in, clean gold projects. With mercury pollution and contamination a serious threat to millions of small miners around the globe, the company is promoting the Mercury Free Mining Challenge, whose mission is to remove mercury from artisanal mining. Because this toxic metal is used in separating gold from its ore, the challenge is to find an environmentally friendly and affordable means of separation that does not involve mercury. (tobypomeroy.com)
ALEXANDRA MOR
Upon discovering that elephant ivory is still being used for jewelry Alexandra Mor decided to create a more meaningful, spiritually connected, human and eco-conscious line of jewelry. She found a beautiful way to replace elephant ivory using Tagua seeds, a sustainable, botanical alternative nearly identical to elephant ivory. Her new Capsule collection incorporates traditional and handcrafted Balinese workmanship and heritage with the use of wild-harvested Tagua seeds, which she discovered on her 2017 artistic journey in Bali, Indonesia. She adds 22K gold, Balinese wood and Sumatran pearls to some of the designs. (alexandramor.com)
Upon discovering that elephant ivory is still being used for jewelry Alexandra Mor decided to create a more meaningful, spiritually connected, human and eco-conscious line of jewelry. She found a beautiful way to replace elephant ivory using Tagua seeds, a sustainable, botanical alternative nearly identical to elephant ivory. Her new Capsule collection incorporates traditional and handcrafted Balinese workmanship and heritage with the use of wild-harvested Tagua seeds, which she discovered on her 2017 artistic journey in Bali, Indonesia. She adds 22K gold, Balinese wood and Sumatran pearls to some of the designs. (alexandramor.com)
ANTHONY LENT
Known for its often whimsical and symbolic jewelry in gold and silver, Anthony Lent takes kindness very seriously. For one of its charitable efforts, the company teamed up with a local humane society, Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue, to raise funds for their cause. It is an all-volunteer, all-breed dog rescue organization comprising a network of foster families and volunteers who work together to save sweet, loving, adoptable dogs from high kill, rural shelters in southern U.S. states and find caring homes for them. Badass has rescued, rehabilitated, and found homes for 1500 dogs to date, changing the lives of the humans who love them, too. (anthonylent.com)
LOREN NICOLE
A newcomer to the world of fine jewelry, Loren Nicole creates pieces using ancient metalsmithing techniques in her studio in Venice Beach, California, drawing on her work experience at the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her Dayak collection was inspired by the indigenous woven jewelry she learned from the Dayak people, of Indonesian Borneo, who use plant materials found in the rainforest. Fifty percent of the proceeds from this collection are donated to Orangutan Foundation International (OFI), which is focused on the preservation of wild orangutans and their habitat. The designer not only supports the OFI financially, but has also participated in short-term volunteer programs in Borneo. (loren-nicole.com)
A newcomer to the world of fine jewelry, Loren Nicole creates pieces using ancient metalsmithing techniques in her studio in Venice Beach, California, drawing on her work experience at the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her Dayak collection was inspired by the indigenous woven jewelry she learned from the Dayak people, of Indonesian Borneo, who use plant materials found in the rainforest. Fifty percent of the proceeds from this collection are donated to Orangutan Foundation International (OFI), which is focused on the preservation of wild orangutans and their habitat. The designer not only supports the OFI financially, but has also participated in short-term volunteer programs in Borneo. (loren-nicole.com)
BUDDHA MAMA
Another brand evoking symbolism is Buddha Mama. This U.S.-based brand contributes to Kristi House, a non-profit center providing treatment, advocacy and coordination of services for child victims of sexual abuse and their families in Florida’s Miami-Dade County. It also contributes to Tibet House, an organization founded at the request of the Dalai Lama to ensure the survival of Tibetan civilization and culture, whatever the political destiny of the six million people of Tibet itself. (buddhamama.com)
BELLE ETOILE
Saving sea turtles is one of the laudable goals of Belle Etoile, as the company calls attention to the plight of these magnificent marine creatures and the need to protect the world’s ocean ecosystems. Working with the Sea Turtle Conservancy, Belle Etoile has introduced a new sea turtle adoption program whereby the company will adopt a sea turtle in the name of purchasers of its jewelry sets. “Our partnership with the Sea Turtle Conservancy is growing stronger than ever and we are exploring creative ways to give our customers more while helping our environment,” says Carolyn Thamkul, executive vice president at Belle Étoile. (belleetoilejewelry.com)
Saving sea turtles is one of the laudable goals of Belle Etoile, as the company calls attention to the plight of these magnificent marine creatures and the need to protect the world’s ocean ecosystems. Working with the Sea Turtle Conservancy, Belle Etoile has introduced a new sea turtle adoption program whereby the company will adopt a sea turtle in the name of purchasers of its jewelry sets. “Our partnership with the Sea Turtle Conservancy is growing stronger than ever and we are exploring creative ways to give our customers more while helping our environment,” says Carolyn Thamkul, executive vice president at Belle Étoile. (belleetoilejewelry.com)