Designers continue pledge not to use coral

[source: NationalJeweler.com] New York--With a much-anticipated protection measure for red and pink coral failing to pass this week, nonprofit organization Sea Web and its "Too Precious to Wear" campaign continue to push forward, gathering designers and manufacturers from the jewelry industry to pledge their support for coral conservation.

In the weeks before the 15th Conference of Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)-where, on Sunday, 64 countries voted in favor of the measure, 59 countries voted against it and 10 abstained-Sea Web had gathered 11 new Too Precious to Wear signatories, adding them to a long list of designers, including Tiffany and Co. and Temple St. Clair, who had previously pledged their support.

"The jewelers joining the campaign today are helping to set the standard in responsible design among the fine jewelry industry by pledging to personally do their part to protect these natural resources by refusing to purchase or use real coral in their designs and by urging other designers to take a similar stance," the organization said in a release.

The most recent Too Precious to Wear signatories are Dana Lorenz of Fallon and Fenton, Eduardo Garza, Ileana Makri, Irene Neuwirth, Kara Ross, Kimberly McDonald, Melissa Joy Manning, Monique Pean, Nak Armstrong of Anthony Nak, Nicole Miller and Robin Renzi of Me and Ro.

"The efforts of these committed fine jewelry designers mean we are experiencing a sea-change in the fashion and design industry when it comes to coral use," Dawn Martin, president of SeaWeb said.

Additional supporters who had previously signed the pledge include Amy Smilovic of Tibi, Chantecaille, Simon Cardwell of Cheeky Monkey Jewelery, Hannah Garrison of AZU Jewelry and Wear your Music, Leber Jeweler, Lela Rose, Lilly Pulitzer, Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava, Maria Cornejo, Maria Grachvogel, Michael Aram, Minnie Mortimer, Nicole Miller, Norma Kamali, Pottery Barn, Reem Acra, Temple St. Clair, Tiffany and Co., Toni Hacker and Ben Harnett of Hayden-Harnett and Yigal Azrouël.

In the wake of the CITES vote, signatory Tiffany and Co. released this statement: "Tiffany and Co. is appalled by the CITES decision not to list red and pink corals on Appendix II.  We will continue to support efforts to ensure this threatened species is properly protected."

via www.nationaljewelernetwork.com

Comments

[Andrew Statezny]

Very informative, I didn't realize that so many people were cutting down on the use of coral.