Conscious and sustainable brands at The Workhouse Gallery
Just Trade is an ethical jewellery brand founded on principals of fair trade and sustainable practices. Working with eight groups of artisans in Peru, Ecuador, India and Vietnam, all their pieces are made using locally sourced and ethical materials and reflect their collaborative approach in their innovative and varied designs.
The Alexandra bracelet (above) is one of our favourites. Crafted by Nieves and Cristina from the Hope Jewellery Fair Trade Project in Lima, Peru, its beautiful geometric design is shaped out of coiled brass, making for a modern and contemporary feel. By working with Just Trade, the women from this project are able to educate their children and secure a better future for their families.
Laura Cave, founder of Just Trade, studied jewellery design at The School of Jewellery in Birmingham and later the Royal College of Art in London. She visited Peru to volunteer with a fair trade jewellery project. It was there that she saw the incredible potential in the skills that they already had, materials that were available locally and the artisans desire to learn more. "I wanted to collaborate with them make desirable products that are valued not only for their fair trade approach but also for the quality of the design and craftsmanship". Just Trade was founded in 2006, born out of first hand contact with people in the developing world and the recognition that in order for small Fair Trade projects to be sustainable, they need a long-term route to market for their goods.