better cost per wear jewelry brands (that support sustainability).

Sustainability in jewelry goes deep, from conflict-free gemstones to recycled gold and lab-grown diamonds, and that’s not even the half of it. I’m just beginning to get into all of the research myself, but I’ve been happy to see a few established brands coming up again and again already.

It’s important to note that these brands have better cost per wear (the quality has longevity to it, but the price is still obtainable), which allows you to hold onto the item for longer. I promise, it’s worth it to buy less so you can invest in quality items when you do buy, and you’re more likely to care for your jewelry properly when you have less. I’ve learned firsthand. I love a timeless design for this reason.

Brand Highlight:

If you’re also due to clean out your jewelry, I learned about a great business, Redyoos (pronounced Reduce) that allows you to mail all of your pre-loved jewelry to be reused and recycled, for free. Jewelry can have non-renewable natural resources that can be converted into clean energy, and they make it so easy:

• Order your free Mail-In Kit from Redyoos
• Pack it with all jewelry items you’d like to donate (gold, silver, mixed metal, gemstones, costume, pre-loved, broken) & return with the pre-paid shipping label
• They identify any precious metal and recycle it for clean energy materials, and donate remaining items to fund community projects

If you want to learn more, I’d highly recommend listening to this podcast episode to hear directly from the founder, Cleo Escarez on Fashion & Founders:

She talks about how precious metal in jewelry can be endlessly reused and recycled (unlike plastic & paper), and saw a huge opportunity to ensure they’re not lost to the landfill. This conserves our natural resources (and reduces mining for them), which drastically reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

So, please support when you’re cleaning out your jewelry and without further to do …

jewelry brands with more responsible business practices!

1. Ana Luisa

Ana Luisa was founded in 2018 with the intent to bridge the gap between quality, accessibility, and sustainability. They understood a holistic approach to sustainability (across product, people, and planet) from the beginning. You can read all about it on their website:

• Brand Beginnings & Impact Report
• Product & Packaging: Materials, Care Guide, 2-Year Warranty
• Supply Chain: Tier-1 Supplier Audits, Code of Conduct
• Environmental Sustainability: Climate Neutral Certification, Water Stewardship, Circularity)

I’ve found so many timeless options at Ana Luisa, and the quality is well worth for investment. I bought from Margot Lee’s collection back in 2018, and wore it on and off, daily, for years. It will finally be donated in my next mail-in, but that only goes to show the quality for price (an under $100 necklace).

2. Mejuri

I enjoyed learning more about Mejuri because I’d shopped from the brand before, but hadn’t researched their sustainability yet. They predominantly use recycled metals, but sourcing information for all individual materials, including conflict-free and lab-grown diamonds is made available to consumers.

Mejuri has many sustainable initiatives set up independently, including a $1.5 million commitment to Regeneration to rehabilitate abandoned mines, restore the damaged ecosystems, and incorporate nature-positive gold from projects.

I can appreciate the wide variety of cost per wear, but don’t forget to follow their jewelry care guide to best maintain the quality in your item!

3. Aurate

Aurate is a personal favorite and uses only sustainable (or recycled) gold, alongside ethically-sourced diamonds and sustainably harvested pearls. It began with a belief that everyone deserves quality jewelry, and thus sought out to balance: “durable materials that withstand everyday wear and tear, transparent pricing as friendly as your neighbor’s dog, sustainable practices to protect our planet, and tangible giving to keep our conscience sparkling.”

Aurate has a lifetime guarantee if that’s not even more reason to invest! I actually saw that resizing is included, which is great because I’ve been holding onto the Infinity Ring for a while now. They’re the best quality for wear, with timeless design that can easily be re-styled over and over.

I’ve found all of these brands are well-worth investing in with quality and sustainability in mind. Please share in the comments your favorite responsible brands, in fashion, beauty, home, or any business doing great work! I don’t believe in overconsumption, so give them a try (an item here & there) before overly investing. Also, if you’ve had an experience with the brands, please feel free to share!

Thanks for reading! xx

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