“When I come into work, I feel a sensation of relief knowing I’ll get to hang out with the kindest people I’ve ever met and create pieces that make others happy.”Īrt therapy employment gives teens the opportunity to learn and develop new skills, make friends, and get experience that will help them find future employment opportunities. Here’s what one youth artisan had to say about their experience with the organization: While they partner with only reputable ones, their main focus is social impact.īy working with marginalized youth and refugees, Kind Karma is able to provide them with job experience and wages that would otherwise be difficult to come by. The majority of Kind Karma’s materials are sourced from US and Canadian wholesalers. Kind Karma uses a variety of metals (sterling silver and 14K gold) combined with a variety of gemstones (turquoise, pearls, opals, and more) and other unique, natural materials (lava stones and seashells). How’s that for good karma? Kind Karma’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices When you glance down at your KK ring, anklet, or bracelet, or catch a glimpse of your earrings or necklace in the mirror, you’ll know that it comes with a significant positive social impact. Technically a social enterprise, the brand employs at-risk youth and uses jewelry making to transform their lives. Toronto-based Kind Karma has a different take on artisan handmade jewelry. To honor Ashley’s grandmother (who passed down jewelry to Ashley and was her inspiration behind the brand), Omi Woods donates some of their profits to social organizations, like AllOneBlood (which raises awareness for and fights Sickle Cell Disease) and 8 Billion Trees. Omi Woods uses these particular metals because they’re resistant to oxidation and corrosion (read: they can be worn for a long time). Other metals are sourced from conflict-free casting houses that are committed to ethical manufacturing. The miners and their communities are further supported through improved access to healthcare, education, and better living conditions. This artisan jewelry designers gold comes from partnerships with small-scale artisanal African mines who ensure safe working conditions and fair wages. Contact them directly for bespoke designs. If you’re after something unique, they can use custom metals like rose gold, white gold, and platinum. Omi Woods’ Ethical and Sustainability PracticesĬhoose between solid artisan gold jewelry, 18K gold vermeil (18K gold over sterling silver), or sterling silver. They have plenty of pieces perfect for everyday wear, as well as those better suited for special occasions. They help us accessorize and admire the traditions of Africa and her diaspora by incorporating multicultural designs inspired by the wonder and beauty of the continent.Ĭheck out Omi Woods’ range of pendants, necklaces, cufflinks, and earrings. Omi means “water” in the Yoruba language, paying tribute to founder Ashley Alexis McFarlane’s Jamaican-Ashanti-Maroon heritage. Omi Woods is one of our favorite Black owned Etsy jewelry shops. And the woman owned Certified B-Corp SOKO provides the platform for skilled artisans to access a global marketplace.įor something not quite as bright but equally important, jump to the bottom to read up on our ethical and sustainable jewelry criteria. While Catbird’s artisans are creating handcrafted jewelry pieces, they’re sipping on free cold brew in their Brooklyn, NY studio. It’s what you’ll find in the jewelry box from Black-owned brand Omi Woods, where all of the pieces tell an African story. That’s why we look for fair trade or the equivalent that demonstrates a brand practices what they preach without an official seal. It often incorporates traditional techniques, local materials, and a unique design that might even tell a story.Īnd it’s (almost) exactly what we’re uncovering here.Įxcept we’re also looking out for brands who ensure ethical practices are maintained in their creation of fair trade and artisan jewelry.įor us, “fair trade” doesn’t necessarily mean certified, as certification can be expensive. It’s jewelry that’s been made by a skilled (usually singular) craftsperson. It’s everything that mass-produced jewelry isn’t.
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