Ethical Jewelry that Changes Lives
T
he oldest piece of jewelry in the world is 90,000 years old. Even back then, it was used as a symbol of status or rank.
Today: wealth. From shells, rocks, bones, wood, feathers, to precious and rare metals and stones, jewelry has evolved in sophistication, diversified in style and meaning, but its appeal remains universal:
By: Yara Zgheib
Jewelry is beauty and value. To Pippa Small, though, it is more: “Jewelry is a door opening into other lives.” It can empower and transform them. The world-renowned designer creates unique pieces that dazzle in London, New York, L.A., and boost local economies in Mogok, Nairobi, Kabul. Small works with women from disadvantaged communities around the world – Afghanistan, Burma, Myanmar, India, Kenya, Central, and South America. Using their traditional techniques and designs, and local, sustainably sourced materials, she and they craft bracelets, necklaces, and earrings that capture the souls of these places. Diamonds, deep turquoise, fair mined gold, mother of pearl. Long before all of that, though, Pippa’s story began with plastic beads, string, seashells, and pebbles. She grew up among artists and travelers and fell in love with art and travel. The cultures she encountered fed her growing collection of bracelets. She strung more and more keepsakes on her arm as she studied medical anthropology and worked with human rights organizations in Borneo, Thailand, and India. She learned about the people, their practices, and nature. She saw all three were disappearing. There had to be a way to preserve and honor this heritage. Pippa found it: jewelry. In 2006, with Turquoise Mountain, an initiative founded by his Royal Highness
MAGAZINE
14
ISSUE #02
