Cradle to Cradle

Cradle to Cradle

Making Sustainable Jewelry from Recycled and Recyclable Materials

by Neha Suradkar

When an architect turns into a jewelry designer, sustainability starts at the design process. The products that are designed are long-lasting, which can be repaired and be fully recycled after their use and therefore can last a lifetime, based on the cradle to cradle principle. Such is the concept behind AYR TAN, a sustainable jewelry brand founded by Sandra Lettow, an architect with a decade’s worth of experience.

Lettow was raised in the Black Forest region of Germany by an Italian mother and a German father. She studied Architecture at the KIT (Technical University), worked as an architect in Frankfurt, and later moved to Paris to work for a prestigious architecture firm. She has been based in Paris since.

Looking at all the jewelry sold in her neighbourhood, she always wondered why weren’t any local jewelry brands offering statement jewelry made out of solid silver and other sustainable materials without being super expensive. She started her research, began experimenting with designs and eventually launched her brand.

Losing her father to a rare lung disease made Lettow value simple things such as the right to live in a safe and healthy environment and breathe clean air. With her knowledge about sustainable materials, she plunged herself into her business with this goal in mind.

AYR TAN is sustainable jewelry developed out of a strong interest in materials and circular design. The pieces are versatile and inspired by architecture, nature, and urban culture. AYR refers to the “air” we breathe. By using recycled materials there is a reduction in environmental impact as compared to the use of conventional materials.

TAN is an homage to summer and the skin. Its different tones give the jewelry a unique look for each person, just as perfume creates your scent. Lettow loves to use abstract elements from post-modern architecture and building materials. She also draws inspiration from contemporary art and minimalist design, nature and all its beauty.

For AYR TAN, Lettow believes in ethically sourcing the materials that are produced in a way that inflicts minimal impact on the earth. She only uses 100% recycled acrylic, made from ‘pre’ and ‘post’ consumer acrylic waste and cast again into new sheets.

This material lives up to the cradle to cradle standard because it is fully recycled and can be recycled again to close the loop. She combines the pieces with recycled, responsibly, and ethically sourced 925 sterling silver parts.

She does not use gold-plated parts because of durability, but rather uses gold-filled parts, which are made from recycled gold and are much longerlasting (from 10-30 years) depending on how much it is worn.

Read more at https://issuu.com/rareluxuryliving/docs/raremagazinesustainablepages/194