Usually when I'm asked about "Green Jewelry" it's a trend report featuring peridot and tsavorite. But now the term has a whole new meaning. Recycled. Ecologically sound. Even "Clean."
Two weeks ago I read about a boutique in NYC that is changing it's focus from discounted designer wear to full-priced Eco-friendly wear (Accessories and jewelry included) and now comes news from NYC design mecca ABC Carpet & Home. For those of you who haven't been there -- it's way more than carpet! What once was just that has morphed in the past two decades into being a total lifestyle store for the cool, trendy and fabulous. They have had a few jewelry counters on the first floor for years.
And now WWD reports today:
ABC Carpet & Home's latest initiative is clean jewelry.
Last week, the firm launched the Grounded Jewel Collection, a new section in its Manhattan flagship dedicated to fine jewelry made from sustainable materials such as recycled gold and diamonds from mining firms that assist the people of mining countries.
Sustainable goods aren't new for Paulette Cole, chief executive officer and creative director of ABC Home. Twenty-five percent of the firm's products, including furniture and housewares, are now sustainable.
Being green has become a hot-button issue, and jewelry — particularly, how it is obtained — is also touching a nerve. The release of the film "Blood Diamond" starring Leonardo DiCaprio, coupled with recent initiatives to aid citizens of diamond-mining countries by well-known figures such as Russell Simmons, has raised public awareness about how gold and diamonds are mined.
Even though the Kimberley Process — a certification plan intended to ensure that diamonds aren't mined and traded to finance illegal activities and violent conflicts — is intact, some jewelry retailers have said that consumers were inquiring about the provenance of gemstones and gold.
"Customers are much more curious about the origin of a product and how it is made," said Cole. "They want to own things that support a community and support sustainability of our planet. There is awareness around recycled materials and knowing that diamonds come from a responsible source that supports a better than fair income and the community.
Sarah Perlis, the 28-year-old owner of an eponymous New York jewelry firm, is the first to offer her wares at the Grounded Jewel Collection at ABC. The store, at 888 Broadway, has sold Perlis' collection for the last three years and she worked closely with Cole on sourcing recycled gold and Sierra Leone-mined diamonds from mining company Pride Diamonds, which focuses on improving mining communities by paying higher daily wages to miners and various methods of community outreach.
Perlis, who plans for all of her jewelry to be completely green by this fall, is offering her nature-inspired 20-karat gold bangles, necklaces and earrings for $100 to $1,800.
"Paulette gets really involved in things," said Perlis, who added that because of high gold prices, using recycled gold was a cost saver, as well. "[ABC] is so proactive with this. They're a pretty impressive little company."
ABC plans to grow the in-store department to include young, local design-forward artisan jewelers.
Carpet cleaning must be done always to maintain the cleanliness of the house. It is good to feel the refreshing feeling if the house is always clean and free from mess. If you are looking for a carpet cleaner be sure to hire a trustworthy person.
Posted by: carpet cleaning albuquerque | February 14, 2011 at 07:51 PM