Posts Tagged ‘fair trade jewellery’
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
We only have to walk in to a high street chain store to find a large selection of economically priced jewellery. This jewellery is largely silver plated with silver or gold strung with plastic or glass beads. It is essentially mass produced to satisfy the demands of the west world for cheap, affordable costume jewellery in this modern day ‘throw away’ society.
Jewellery has not always been as accessible or affordable as it is today though. For example, way back in Victorian times, a whole range of solid silver and gold earrings, bracelets and necklaces were made with skills reflected by that era of fine craftsmanship in general. Watches, clocks, jewellery and even pottery were made with such accuracy, care and attention back in those days. Focussing on the jewellery though, the Victorians used a delightful array of semi precious stones and if you go to an antique shop today, you will most definitely see jewellery of that era elegantly designed and inlaid with gems such as lapis lazuli, moonstone, opal, malachite, blue chalcedony, zircon blue, turquoise, black jet, pink quartz and garnet amongst many others.
For those wanting quality handmade silver jewellery made in the same care and attention at affordable prices, I would recommend exploring the world of fair trade jewellery. Although fair trade jewellery is not as readily accessible in chain stores, there are many online fair trade outlets where you can browse at your leisure at the different colours and designs available.
To explore why fair trade jewellery is special, I would really like to draw specific attention to a range of fair trade silver jewellery designed and produced in India. It is made by a community practising Jainism, an ancient religion based on Buddhist ideals. As most people know, Buddhists live their life in serenity, peace and calm.
I find their solid silver jewellery quite fascinating since each piece has been imprinted with their traditional jewellery making skills as well as their cultural vision of what constitutes beautiful jewellery.
Their range of designs are subtle with soft curves and shapes such as teardrops, hearts, ovals, flowers and spheres. Some have delicate threads of silver shaped in swirls to give a really elegant finish.
Every item is made from .925 solid silver with each piece inlaid with gemstones reminiscent of days gone by. For example there are stud earrings made with tigers eye, blue chalcedony and lapis lazuli. Hook earrings with gemstone droplets of moonstone rainbow, zircon blue and malachite. Bracelets with oval stones or malachite or even labradorite as well as pendants with coral and turquoise or zircon blue.
Whether you prefer watery colours of zircon and moonstone or the more earthy tones of tigers eye or malachite, there really is something for everyone.
So the story of this particular range of fair trade jewellery is quite fascinating though all kinds of fair trade giftware is available nowadays, not just jewellery.
If we take time to delve a little deeper in to the world of fair trade, we will find that each piece has a historical context by way of the people of a specific community that made it, their cultural beliefs and backgrounds and to me that is exactly what makes fair trade jewellery so very special.
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Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
The Fair Trade label is becoming increasingly common in the Western world. But while shoppers seem keen to pay a little over the odds for fair trade products, some observers question how effective it really is in helping developing third world farmers.
In my view, the more the Western market is flooded and the more Fair Trade sold, then over time, the third world will surely reap the benefits in the end?
Surely, the more fair trade clothes and jewellery we buy, the more the third world produce and sell, and then the more we buy, the more the third world earn and so on…..and this can only be a positive cyclic relationship perpetuating greater wealth over time for impoverished societies?
The craftsmanship on fair trade gifts and jewellery is truly outstanding. Quite clearly the skills of the indigenous communities who produce such gems are passed from generation to generation so skills like wood carving, hand painting, hand screen printing and jewellery crafting do not fade. We are lucky to have accessibility to the products of great artisans so we can appreciate their unique beauty in contrast to mass produced generic products that are not, in sharp contrast, skilfully handcrafted and have no soul or originality.
Hand embroidered fair trade bags
There is an organis ation in India called Touch of India who specialise in hand making fair trade bags all of which are hand embroidered. Touch of India carries out most of its work with Muslim minorities and aims to preserve old traditional embroidery techniques such as Kantha embroidery, Zardozi and Aari work. It uses a wide range of beads and fabrics in the most beautiful colours and are true works of art. All their products are exchanged for a fair wage.
Hand made fair trade candles
In Kolkata, India, the conglomerate E.M.A., carry on the tradition of candle making by hand. Paraffin was is melted in an oven and poured into a mould or ‘die’. Each candle is left to cool for six to seven hours before being taken out of the die and polished. It can be then hand painted or hand screen printed. Most of the scents used are from flowers, fruits and spices and come from Bangalore. Each candle is a work of art and has been exchanged using fair trade principles.
Hand screen printed jute shopping bags
Earth Bags in Kolkata, India, produce bags made from jute since it is a fast-growing vegetable fibre in their country. It is also 100% biodegradable and recyclable. Some of the bags are natural jute while others have been hand dyed in sumptuous pinks , greens and purples embellished with coloured sequins and hand printed with metallic gold or pink screen prints. Earth Bags gives employment to women and self-help groups in Kolkata and strives to help the environment by encouraging more people to use eco-friendly bags.
Fair trade jewellery
Produced in Delhi, India, each piece of jewellery is created from Indian solid silver. Each item is crafted and inlaid with semi precious gemstones ranging from the beautifully rich deep blue lapis lazuli, to the milky moonstone and the opulent malachite. The range of jewellery covers intricately crafted pendants inlaid with coral and turquoise to hand crafted earrings some with finely shaped spirals of silver.
All the products Indigo Ocean have to offer have been exchanged for a fair wage to help to improve the communities standard of living and quality of life - not only for them - but for their next generation….
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Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
I feel confident the majority of us are aware of fair trade tea, coffee and bananas since supermarkets have posters everywhere emblazoned with the striking green and blue logo with a picture of the food product.
We can then choose whether or not to buy this range depending on our understanding of what fair trade is all about. Though I wonder how many of us realise the fair trade range goes way beyond such consumables. For example, there is a magnificent range of fair trade gifts available spanning across accessories like bags, scarves and purses. There are colourful, educational childrens toys. High quality hand made fair trade jewellery.Also homeware like brightly weaved or natural rugs, throws, cushions, candles and wooden plates and bowls. The list really is endless!
Not only is there something special for everyone but also everything is hand made by artisans using traditional skills passed from generation to generation. Since fair trade is literally created and not manufactured on a production line, I truly believe every piece is unique. Furthermore, we have the satisfaction of knowing no-one has been exploited since fair trade means a fair wage has been exchanged under ethical working conditions.
So what fair trade treasures are there beyond bananas?
5. Tealight Holders. If you are after something really quirky for someone with a sense of humour there are brilliant tealights ranging from hedgehogs to chickens and frogs. The ones I have seen are made by a family in Indonesia from scrap tin. Each tealight is painted in detail giving it a unique charm that could never be found in high street stores.
4. Moneyboxes. There are some really fun wooden animal moneyboxes around from giraffes to zebras and cows which would bring a smile to any child. They are well worth keeping your eyes open for.
3. Bags. With the demise of plastic bags, eco-friendly and fair trade bags are becoming increasingly common. From jute bags to recycled newspaper bags, these are worth exploring with some embellished with sequinned flowers dyed the most amazing colours.
2. Stationery. Fair trade stationery has found its way onto the market shelves at last. I’m so glad because everything is so beautifully made. There is a high quality range of colourful handcrafted cards, notebooks, albums, diaries and cards reflecting the authentic skills of embroidery and papermaking of fair trade craftspeople.
1. Jewellery. I love jewellery, what female doesn’t? Fair trade jewellery has become very diverse catering for the western world. There are wooden beads, glass beads, shells and seed beads. Long, short, wide and narrow. There are earrings, bracelets, necklaces, chains and pendants made from solid silver inlaid with semi precious gemstones like malachite, moonstone, zircon, lapis lazuli and turquoise. It surprises me they are not more expensive when you study the skill and workmanship. Definitely worth a look.
So next time you see the striking logo in a supermarket or on a bunch of bananas, I truly hope it serves to remind us of all the other treasures fair trade brings us and the people we are helping.
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Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
The coffee giant Starbuck announced in the last month (Aug 09) its entire range of coffee will now carry the fair trade label. This move emphasises the increasing popularity of fair trade and a growing realisation that buying fair trade benefits everyone.
This is really great news if you are an avid fair trade support like myself. I believe the more publicity about fair trade, then the greater it serves people to fully understand that fair trade is entirely ethical and that the range actually extends way beyond coffee and other consumables.
So, apart from coffee, what are the best fair trade gifts currently on offer?
5. Childrens toys. There is such a broad range of good quality fair trade childrens toys available it is difficult to know where to start. For example, there are wooden puzzles in all kinds of shapes and sizes from parrots and elephants to money puzzles and trains. There are humming bird and parrot mobiles, wooden instruments for children and bookends painted with soldiers or fairies! Magnets in the shape of fish, butterflies and cats, pencils and lots of other interesting novelties.
4. Accessories. From my personal experience it can be difficult to choose accessories as gifts because it can be quite subjective. For example, because I love bluey green and pinky purple hues I always get drawn to fair trade bags, scarves and belts in these colours, though it just takes self discipline not to buy two of everything! Not ideal when someone you have in mind instead loves the earthy golden tones of autumn! Nevertheless, there are many shapes and sizes of bags made from jute or hemp, yards of silk scarves in all colours beautifully embroidered with rainbow colours and embellished with sequins.
3. Homeware. This is always quite a subjective area too if buying as a present, though if they love natural wood then fair trade homeware is by fair the best place to look. You can be sure of finding something since there is a diverse range of fair trade homeware from wooden salad servers, coconut bowls and bamboo plates to mussel shell or batik covered picture frames.
2. Jewellery. Again, the range of silver fair trade jewellery is quite amazing. It brings traditional Indian designs with semi precious gemstones such as malachite, moonstone, labradorite, lapis lazuli, chalcedony or garnet.
There is such diversity possibly as a result of growth created by a demand from the Western world for this high quality hand made silver jewellery.
1. Candles. Fair trade candles are hand made using traditional skills. The perfumes and colours tend to reflect the aromas one would associate with the East such as jasmine, vanilla, frankincense, magnolia and patchouli. There is a great variety of shapes and sizes from square, oblong, pyramid, cylinder and even tea lights inlaid with pressed flowers. Some really feminine gift ideas that would be very graciously received, I’m sure.
Fair trade gifts are easily accessible from various online shops and is modestly priced. At least when buying such gifts, we know it is what it says on the label, fabulous fair trade.
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Saturday, August 1st, 2009
Fair trade silver earring, apatite and moonstone : £10.99
PROPERTIES
Apatite is a calcium phosphate which interestingly can be found in approx 65% of the bones and teeth of humans and animals including fish and dinosaurs!
The colour of Apatite is normally green but can also be blue, yellow, reddish-brown, violet (one of the rarer but more popularly demanded colours), yellow-green (”asparagus stone”), colourless or multi-coloured. The colour formation is determined by the natural presence of rare earth elements since it is made up from three kinds of minerals. The colour will depend on the highest density of either fluorine, chlorine or the hydroxyl group so although all three are present in every specimen the colour depends on the percentage of mineral density which determines the colour itself.
- Fair trade silver earring with apatite : £7.49
The name Apatite is a derivative of the Greek word “apatao,” meaning “to deceive,” as Apatite can be notoriously difficult to distinguish for example from other gemstones such as tourmaline, peridot and topaz.
The properties of Apatite give it a softness and brittle structure and could explain why it is not so found as a common gemstone in jewellery. For example, the most appropriate use of Apatite for jewellery seems to be earrings and necklaces or pendants rather than rings and bracelets and this may be explained by its vulnerability to damage.
Indigo Ocean has a beautiful range of modestly priced fair trade silver jewellery handmade in India. Our broad range of fair trade jewellery are inlaid with various combinations of semi precious gemstones. We have fair trade silver stud earrings, fair trade hook earrings, silver pendants and silver bracelets. We have a great selection of fair trade silver jewellery with stones such as apatite, blue chalcedony, malachite, lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye, moonstone, moonstone rainbow, black star, labradorite and rose quartz. All of our fair trade silver jewellery is exchanged for a fair wage. We have included in this article a selection of fair trade silver earrings inlaid with the blue-green Apatite so you can see the beauty of the designs available.
- Fair trade silver earring with apatite : £8.59
ORIGIN
Apatite is mined in Brazil, Madagascar (where blue apatite is most commonly mined), Mexico, Mozambique, Norway (blue-green), Sri Lanka, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Spain (where the yellow-green variety is found, aptly named the ‘Asparagus stone’), Brazil, and the United States (note, Apatite’s most famous crystals hail from the aptly-named Mount Apatite in Maine.
FOLKLORE
In folklore through the ages, Apatite is believed to stimulate thoughts and ideas through increasing intellect, imagination, and intuitive awareness. Wearing Apatite in some kind of jewellery form is believed to help to dilute hostility and prejudice bringing the wearer harmony on all levels promoting an ‘inner peace’.
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Wednesday, July 15th, 2009
Fair trade earring black star and moonstone : £12.75
PROPERTIES
Black Star Diopside is a Calcium Magnesium Silicate and is an intense black gemstone.
- Fair trade earrings, black star & labradorite : £7.49
Indigo Ocean has a very elegant and moderately priced range of fair trade jewellery hand made in India from solid silver. Our vast range of fair trade jewellery pieces are inlaid with various combinations of semi precious gemstones.
We have fair trade silver stud earrings, fair trade hook earrings, silver pendants and silver bracelets. We have a great selection of fair trade silver jewellery with stones such as blue chalcedony, malachite, lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye, black star, moonstone, moonstone rainbow and rose quartz. All of our fair trade silver jewellery is exchanged for a fair wage. Below is a selection of fair trade earrings inlaid with black star.
Fair trade earrings, black star and labradorite : £15.49
ORIGIN
Black Star is mined predominantly in India.
Fair trade earrings, black star : £10.59
HISTORY
Black Star Diopside derives from the Greek word ‘di’ meaning two, and ‘opsis’, meaning vision. Another name that has appeared over the years for Black Star Diopside is the Black Star of India.
Fair trade earring stud black star : £12.75
FOLKLORE
Traditionally Black Star Diopside is believed to help heal trauma by bringing cleansing to tears and thus diluting the trauma and consequently Black Star is sometimes referred to as the ‘crying stone’. It can help alleviate aggression and stubbornness and is said to be related to love, commitment, and the inner heart. It is also said to bring creativity if worn in jewellery or carried by the wearer.
Black Star Diopside is also believed to help with physical ailments concerned wit the heart, lungs and circulatory system as well as aiding with psychological disorders and weaknesses.
BIRTH STONE
Diopside is associated with the birthstone month of March.
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Wednesday, July 15th, 2009
Fair trade jewellery, malachite and rose quartz earrings : £8.59
PROPERTIES OF ROSE QUARTZ
Clear Quartz is pure or nearly pure Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), made of Silicon and Oxygen which is the Earth’s most common elements. If any impurities are present, these are normally a result of trace elements of Aluminum, Lithium, Potassium or Sodium.
- Fair trade earrings with rose quartz : £4.99
The pale pink colour of rose quartz can range from transparent to translucent. Transparent rose quartz is very rare and the colour is very subtle unless in a large piece of mineral where the colour is more concentrated due to the greater mass. On the other hand, the more translucent rose quartz is much more readily available and is used extensively for making beads, cabochons and carvings, pendants, earrings and necklaces.
Indigo Ocean has a very elegant and moderately priced range of fair trade jewellery hand made in India from solid silver. Our vast range of fair trade jewellery pieces are inlaid with various combinations of semi precious gemstones. We have fair trade silver stud earrings, fair trade hook earrings, silver pendants and silver bracelets. We have a great selection of fair trade silver jewellery with stones such as blue chalcedony, malachite, lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye, moonstone, moonstone rainbow and rose quartz. All of our fair trade silver jewellery is exchanged for a fair wage. Below is a selection of fair trade earrings inlaid with rose quartz.
HISTORY
Although not much is known historically about Rose Quartz, beads were found in the area once known as Mesopotamia (today’s Iraq) that date back to 7000 BC. Rose Quartz jewellery was known to be crafted by the Assyrians during the time span of 800-600 BC, and it is believed that the Assyrians along with the Romans were first to use this stone. The Romans used it for making seals as a sign of ownership and considered it a strong healing stone. Egyptians believed the pink stone prevented aging.
ORIGIN
Rose Quartz is predominantly mined in Brazil but can also be found in Madagascar, Germany, India and South Africa.
FOLKLORE
Historically Rose Quartz has long been a symbolic gemstone synonymous with love and beauty and in modern day terms it is now known as the “Stone of Gentle Love” or the “Stone of Unconditional Love”. I wonder if this is because of its gentle pink colour which is normally associated with matters of heart – ie: love…..??
Traditionally Rose Quartz has been given as presents to newborn babies with the belief this will aid their transition from the spirit world to the physical realm, gently integrating the two and helping with adjustment. This stone is also said to help mend broken hearts or aid in easing emotional trauma.
Wearing or carrying a heart-shaped Rose Quartz pendant or charm is believed to attract love.
BIRTHSTONE PROPERTY
Rose Quartz is the modern alternative or substitute for Garnet for those born in January.
Tags: fair trade earrings, fair trade jewellery, fair trade silver earrings, hook earrings, rose quartz earrings, rose quartz folklore, rose quartz gemstone, rose quartz history, rose quartz jewellery, rose quartz necklace, rose quartz properties
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Thursday, July 9th, 2009
fair trade earrings, blue chalcedony : £10.59
PROPERTIES
Chalcedony, a semi precious gemstone, is in essence a crypto-crystalline sub-species of quartz generally milky brown in colour, but there are also rarer blue (blue chalcedony), green (chrysoprase) and orange-red (cornelian) varieties and less commonly, it can be transparent.
Chalcedony can be virtually any colour of the rainbow though commonly pale blue, yellow, brown or grey with nearly wax-like milky lustre.
Chalcedony is a very fine crystallized or fibrous quartz forming rounded crusts, rinds, or stalactites in volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Chalcedony is a precious stone that occurs in many forms, colours, and shapes. Chalcedony, agates, jaspers, bloodstone, onyx and chrysoprase constitute the chalcedony gemstones.
Indigo Ocean have an elegant and truly gorgeous range of fair trade jewellery inlaid with semi precious gemstones such as silver stud earrings, hook earrings, silver pendants and silver bracelets. We have a great selection of fair trade silver jewellery with stones such as blue chalcedony, malachite, lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye, moonstone and rose quartz. All of our fair trade jewellery is exchanged for a fair wage.
fair trade silver earrings, blue chalcedony : £7.49
HISTORY
Long ago the Romans used chalcedony for wax seals while the Victorians carved them into delicate cameos and intaglios.
In all ages chalcedony has been the stone most used by the gem engraver, and many coloured varieties are still cut and polished as ornamental stones.
Chalcedony is one of the gemstones used in commesso (florentine mosaic) and is a technique of creating pictures with thin-cut shapes of brightly coloured, semi precious stones. Commesso pictures were used to decorate table tops and small wall panels, range from emblematic and floral subjects to landscapes. This truly stunning and beautiful art was developed in Florence in the late 16th century.
As well as chalcedony other stones also used for this kind of delicate art were agates, quartz, jasper and lapis lazuli.
fair trade silver earrings, blue chalcedony : £4.99
ORIGIN
Although the mineral is mined in many parts of the world, the most prized Chalcedony are found in Madagascar, Brazil, India, USA, China and Mexico.
fair trade silver earrings, blue chalcedony : £10.99
FOLKLORE
Chalcedony is believed to banish fear, hysteria, depression, mental illness and sadness, reduces fever. Wearing chalcedony is believed to be useful for sharpening the sense of vision too.
Tags: blue chalcedony, chalcedony earrings, chalcedony silver earrings, fair trade earrings, fair trade jewellery, fair trade silver jewellery, silver earrings, silver hook earrings, silver pendants, silver stud earrings
Posted in Birth stone properties, Fair trade Jewellery update, Gemstones and their properties | 2 Comments »
Sunday, May 31st, 2009
- Fair trade silver malachite £35.99
PROPERTIES OF MALACHITE
Malachite is a hydrated copper carbonate where the dense, opulent green colour of the Malachite gemstone derives its name from the Greek word ‘mallow’, (a green herb). It is characterised by bandings of light and dark green patterns which make this gemstone easy to identify.
Malachite can also be formed with a violet-blue mineral azurite which is called as Azurmalachite or Malachite azurite.
Indigo Ocean has a range of fair trade jewellery hand made in India where the crafts people have been paid a fair wage for their workmanship.
Malachite fair trade earrings £4.99
HISTORY
The Egyptians have been using malachite minerals since 3000 AD inlaid in amulets to protect against the ‘evil eye’ bringing protection and was also used in other jewellery such as bracelets, rings and pendants. Like the Turquoise, this stone was also grounded into a powder to use as an eye shadow characteristic of the ancient Egyptian era on both males and females.
fair trade silver jewellery, malachite £7.49
Since ancient times this beautiful fine green crystal has also been used in abundance in inlay work and carvings of cathedrals and churches.
Malachite is also a popular stone used extensively in jewellery particularly in Native American South Western jewellery. Malachite is also known by its trade name the peacock stone. In the Indian market the gem is popularly known as dana firang.
ORIGIN
Malachite is mined primarily in Zaire though it can also be sourced from Germany, Zambia and Australia.
FOLKLORE SURROUNDING MALACHITE
As far as folklore goes, Malachite was believed to be the”mirror of the soul”. There was a strong belief that Malachite has the power to allow us to get in touch with the dual nature of the human mind (where the brain is made up of two hemispheres) and bring harmony to the wearer.
Please let us know if you have any other facts you would like to share with our readers. We are always interested in hearing from you.
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Monday, May 11th, 2009
- Moonstone and black star
The composite qualities of this stone are made from the Feldspar group (adularia orthoclase); potassium aluminium silicate; opalescent with a white sheen and the stone is usually colourless, white or silver. If the stone has a blue sheen, it is known as moonstone rainbow because when the light catches it, it shimmers with a multitude of rainbow colours (as below image clearly shows).
Moonstone hanging teardrop
Indigo Ocean has a very elegant and moderately priced range of fair trade jewellery hand made in India from solid silver. Our vast range of fair trade jewellery pieces are inlaid with various combinations of semi precious gemstones. We have fair trade silver stud earrings, fair trade hook earrings, silver pendants and silver bracelets. We have a great selection of fair trade silver jewellery with stones such as blue chalcedony, malachite, lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye, moonstone, moonstone rainbow and rose quartz. All of our fair trade silver jewellery is exchanged for a fair wage.
In Pagan times, it was said that if a moonstone was placed in the mouth during the period of a full moon the stone could help lovers find out what lay in store for them in the future.
Historically, either wearing a Moonstone in a piece of jewellery or being in possession of the stone, would help calm emotions and balance oversensitivity. It is also thought to help open up one’s feminine side aiding awareness of subconscious feelings. Interestingly its also thought to assist hormonal equilibrium during menstrual cycle as well as heighten intuition and receptivity.
Please let me know if you have any other facts to add about this so that people who love this gemstone can read up on it!
Thanks
Tags: christmas gifts, fair trade earrings, fair trade earrings moonstone, fair trade jewellery, fair trade moonstone, Indian jewellery, moonstone, moonstone earrings, moonstone jewellery, moonstone rainbow, solid silver jewellery
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