Made to order, hand made by local artisans, recycled metals, ethically sourced gem stones – the list of what to look for when investing in ethical and sustainable jewellery is long. Like most things in our quest to tread lightly, when it comes to jewellery it can be confusing to know which brands to trust. The good news is not only is there a fast-growing number of jewellery designers introducing sustainable and ethical practices that are challenging the customs of traditional jewellery making, they are also creating beautiful pieces to last a life time, worth investing in at any time of year.

NATALIE MARIE 

Natalie Fitch is the owner, director and head designer of Natalie Marie, a slow, bespoke jewellery brand headquartered in Avalon, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches setting a very high bar for what sustainable jewellery design looks like in Australia and beyond. It’s their connection to nature and authentic approach to doing business that sets them apart. We would happily take home any of their pieces, but especially love their work with ethically sourced diamonds.

HOLLY RYAN

Holly has been honing her craft for the best part of a decade, constantly refining her practice and always striving to be better from a sustainability perspective. The brand sources recycled materials, ethical stones and all pieces are hand made locally in Australia. But what we love most is their closed loop system in which customers can return their pre-loved pieces in exchange for store credit, or to be redesigned by Holly. A truly beautiful initiative.

MEADOWLARK

A kiwi sustainable jewellery brand to know and love, Meadowlark is the antithesis of fast fashion, with hand made pieces made to order in its own atelier. Meadowlark’s design philosophy is to create classic pieces that are made to last, and their vision, like many of our favourite designers, is to live in a circular world. All of their designs can be repaired and recycled into new pieces, and all metal scrap is recycled back into the system, thereby creating no waste. The traceability of materials (one of the hardest elements to achieve in jewellery design) is an ongoing conversation with suppliers, and the human rights of every person involved in the supply chain is also a key focus.

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