My inspiration primarily comes from nature. It is obvious to me that I therefore want to harm the natural environment as little as I can in the fabrication of my jewellery.
This is not easy. The traditional mining of metals and gemstones can, if not strictly regulated, cause appalling damage both to the local environment and often to the health and wellbeing of the miners and gem polishers and cutters, especially gold mining. This makes me very uneasy. The supply of Fair Trade or 100% recycled metals and gemstones is in its infancy in the UK, but I am gradually replacing my bullion and gemstone suppliers to recycled or Fair Trade ones where it is possible. I am now able to purchase rubies, saphires, spinels and tanzanites from a fairly traded and mined company working from a mine in Tanzania, called RubyFair. Do check out their website here for more information if you are interested. 100% recycled gold and silver sheet, wire and casting grain is slowly becoming available now in Hatton Garden, so I am experimenting with that at the moment and hope to incorporate it as much as possible. Any diamonds I use are certified conflict-free.
Some supply areas, like chain, findings and gemstone beads are just not available yet, and so I am as yet unable to purchase those as I would like too.
I am careful to keep my studio practice as eco-friendly as I can - I use citric acid rather than more damaging acids for my pickle, biodegradable solution for my ultrasonic machine, eco cleaning fluids and light bulbs. I have chosen recycled materials for my packaging and business cards, and avoid techniques like etching and plating that use corrosive chemicals. So, whilst not all my supplies can be fully environmentally- friendly, I do believe I am doing what I can to keep my jewellery's carbon footprint as light as I can. It is a longterm process for me, and I hope to make further improvements as they become possible.
This is not easy. The traditional mining of metals and gemstones can, if not strictly regulated, cause appalling damage both to the local environment and often to the health and wellbeing of the miners and gem polishers and cutters, especially gold mining. This makes me very uneasy. The supply of Fair Trade or 100% recycled metals and gemstones is in its infancy in the UK, but I am gradually replacing my bullion and gemstone suppliers to recycled or Fair Trade ones where it is possible. I am now able to purchase rubies, saphires, spinels and tanzanites from a fairly traded and mined company working from a mine in Tanzania, called RubyFair. Do check out their website here for more information if you are interested. 100% recycled gold and silver sheet, wire and casting grain is slowly becoming available now in Hatton Garden, so I am experimenting with that at the moment and hope to incorporate it as much as possible. Any diamonds I use are certified conflict-free.
Some supply areas, like chain, findings and gemstone beads are just not available yet, and so I am as yet unable to purchase those as I would like too.
I am careful to keep my studio practice as eco-friendly as I can - I use citric acid rather than more damaging acids for my pickle, biodegradable solution for my ultrasonic machine, eco cleaning fluids and light bulbs. I have chosen recycled materials for my packaging and business cards, and avoid techniques like etching and plating that use corrosive chemicals. So, whilst not all my supplies can be fully environmentally- friendly, I do believe I am doing what I can to keep my jewellery's carbon footprint as light as I can. It is a longterm process for me, and I hope to make further improvements as they become possible.