Back when “eco” was first becoming a buzz word, it seemed like what often followed it was some variation of scratchy hemp or unwearable hippie craftwork – especially in the realm of earth-friendly jewelry. Thankfully times have changed, and as new and innovative designers continue to emerge from the shadows, they’re bringing their fashion-forward vision of a green lifestyle along with them.
Take Sand Jewelery, for example. Designer Therese Nguyen is an avid surfer, so it’s no surprise that her line is inspired by the beaches of Southern California. Each of her handcrafted pieces feature elements of beach and earth, including sea glass, healing stones and freshwater pearls (my personal favorite is a simply stunning freshwater pearl ring bound with gold wire.) And although it’s tempting for this sea baby to use coral in her work, she refrains because of how damaging mining is to reefs, choosing to focus on more sustainable offerings.
East coast-based Prismera Design also features stunning, attention-grabbing necklaces and earrings with simplistic yet dramatic flare. The Flora & Folium and Noctiflora collections are their two eco-friendly collections, with each made from stainless steel created from recycled components. But the best part? Stainless steel doesn’t require any chemicals in its maintenance, so you can easily maintain the beauty of your jewelry with water, soap and a gentle non-abrasive cloth.
And then there’s the fabulously named Dirty Librarian Chains. Designer Susan Domelsmith was looking for a line that represented her own edgy fashion tastes, and when she couldn’t find what she was looking for, she created it. Each piece she designs is composed of 85% recycled vintage materials, including chains and charms, each of which are woven together to create a unique piece that speaks volumes about the wearer… which makes sense, considering celebrity fans include Kate Hudson, Debbie Harry, KT Tunstall and Jessica Alba.
Obviously this is just a sampling of what’s out there, but these lines are three that definitely stand out from the eco-friendly crowd.
Source: www.digitalcity.com
