Hey guys!
So I took a bit of a break from blogging for the last few weeks. But, it was for good reason and now I’m back with a fun blog post to kick things back off!
If you’re wondering where I’ve been, I have actually been applying for grad schools and studying for the GRE. Luckily, that’s all behind me now and worked out exactly as planned!
Some of you may know that I’ve been working toward starting a social enterprise to sell ethical/sustainable custom-made swimwear. But, I’ve been looking for guidance to make this business the best it can be and thought pursuing a Master’s in Entrepreneurship would help.
Long story short, I’m going to grad school at the University of Cambridge! I can’t wait to get started this fall and tell you guys all about it. So stay tuned for updates and beautiful Cambridge pics.
Anyway, with everything that’s been going on in the U.S. in terms of BLM protests and other related events, I thought it was time for me to step up and use my voice and blog to talk about something that really matters.
That’s why this post will be all about sustainable & ethical black owned jewelry brands! It’s essential that we recognize and support all the incredible black-owned and black-run businesses out there.
Plus, it’s always good to show our support for eco-friendly and ethical brands like these that are truly making a difference in the world. And aside from that fact, they also just have some of the most gorgeous jewelry I’ve seen!
This is jewelry you can feel good in and about. So, be sure to check them out and give your support to these amazing black owned jewelry brands.
Also, if you’re interested in discovering other ethical & sustainable brands or learning more about sustainable fashion, check out this page with more info. Now let’s get to it!
Here are 11 of my new favorite jewelry brands (that are also sustainable, ethical and black-owned)
To kick things off, I thought I’d start with the brand Kaleidoscope Beauty, which has stunning and bold pieces meant to showcase the beauty of Africa. Not only is their jewelry affordable, but it has culture and vibrancy woven into every piece.
On top of all that, their pieces are handmade and you can see where in each product description. I am living for this kind of transparency!
My favorite part about this brand though is the fact that they’re all about supporting their artisans and the communities they work in.
The artisans making these gorgeous statement pieces are young people coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. By working with Kaleidoscope Beauty, they have the chance to turn their lives around and develop skills that protect them from threats in slum areas.
So, there is literally no reason not to buy from this brand. You’ll walk away with some beautiful jewelry and will have helped people in the process. Read more about the Founder and Director, Umutoni Thuku-Benzinge, and the brand’s story here.
For our second brand on this list, let’s talk about my new favorite brand for beautiful, dainty jewelry: Devi Arts Collective.
In terms of the jewelry itself, it’s that perfect kind of simplistic yet unique dainty style. They’re items you can easily wear on a daily basis and get tons of compliments on.
What I love about this brand and the designer, Bayoush Mengesha, is that they’re all about slow, ethical fashion and transparency. Bayoush makes each and every piece by hand in her studio in Vancouver. All of her pieces are travel- and nature-inspired and aim to honor artisans around the world.
Additionally, it matters to Bayoush where and how she sources her materials. That means no child labor and only ethically-made gemstones and recycled silver and gold metals. Love it!
While definitely on the more expensive side than the other brands here, Valerie Madison is the definition of gorgeous, high-quality jewelry. They have everything from engagement and wedding bands to necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
Plus, if you want something customized, you can do that too!
Aside from offering so many great projects, I love what this brand is all about and the fact that it’s owned by a Black Latina woman! 🙌 Valerie (pictured above) is all about transparency and ethical/sustainable production.
Most of us know the dark history of the jewelry industry. Nonetheless, with a degree in Environmental Science & Resource Management, it’s no wonder Valerie found a way of putting the environment first.
That’s why her jewelry is made with recycled gold that requires no mining and uses recycled diamonds whenever possible, as well as diamond alternatives like Moissanite. When (if) I ever get engaged, this will definitely be the first place I look!
Yala is an African jewelry brand made for the modern woman. As you can already tell, they have amazing, interesting pieces that are the perfect middle ground between simplistic and bold.
Also, this black owned jewelry brand is a Certified B Corporation, which means they meet the highest standards of transparency and social and environmental responsibility. Plus, the story behind how this brand was created by Founder and CEO, Audrey Migot-Adholla, is absolutely heart-warming.
Audrey was born in Kenya and is now based in Bristol, UK. It was her dream to create accessories by working with local artisans and highlighting their talents.
Now, Audrey does just that and works with 150 artisans in Kenya who are paid fairly, work in safe environments, and actually get to be recognized for their hard work! I just love what this brand stands for and the fact that you get to see exactly who your money is going to when you buy from Yala.
This may just be one of my favorite new brands in general! So don’t forget to check them out and meet the makers here.
I cannot say enough good things when it comes to SOKO. Not only are they doing tons of great work in terms of ethical and sustainable practices, but I also can’t find a piece of jewelry of theirs that I don’t like.
I absolutely love all of it! Check it out and you’ll see what I mean.
Also, SOKO is an ethical woman-led brand. Can I get an amen?? 👏 Plus, founders Gwendolyn Floyd, Catherine Mahugu, and Ella Peinovich are transforming the way artisans work and are paid.
In order to support independent artisan entrepreneurs in underserved communities, SOKO founders created a proprietary smartphone commerce app that allows artisans to reach international markets. Using the app, artisans can work from anywhere and still receive orders and payment.
As a result, their “revolutionary jewelry supply chain increases income 5x for marginalized artisans in the developing world.”
Pretty cool, right?! On top of supporting artisans, SOKO is a certified B-Corp using sustainable and affordable materials.
Candid Art has the perfect name because they really do create art in the form of jewelry (as well as home decor and more).
What started as one woman’s creative effort became a full-scale business and lifestyle for customers. Candice Cox (pictured above) is the creative mind and owner behind this brand, which was inspired by African visual culture, indigenous design vernacular, and cosmic geometry.
Each piece is handmade for people wanting to make a statement. In addition to being ethically made, they use recycled metals and materials, as well as fabrics and packaging.
Linga Nigra is another artistic brand with really interesting jewelry. There’s so much to love about this brand but, to start with, the founder, Alicia Goodwin is a fellow Chicagoan!
Her studio is in her home in Chicago where all of her jewelry is handmade. You can see what it looks like (and listen to Alicia’s seriously soothing voice) in this YouTube video.
Alicia’s work is based on nature and the randomness of it and employs the use of a lot of gorgeous texture.
So if you want to support a smaller artist with unique, beautiful jewelry, this is the perfect place to buy from!
Kpelle.Designs easily has some of the coolest jewelry on this list of black owned jewelry brands. I’m pretty sure you’ll immediately look 10x cooler the moment you put these pieces on.
Aside from that, Kpelle’s jewelry is interesting and unique and includes a good mix of statement and more simplistic styles.
The founder, Gwanywan (or Gwen, as her friends call her, (first picture above)), is a Liberian-American woman who has a knack for turning creativity into beautiful jewelry. In building her business, here’s what Gwen says she’s learned: “my heart finds joy in handcrafting pieces that tenderly utter African lineage and culture.”
She’s all about making her customers feel inspired and empowered in culture-centric jewelry. She even makes hair jewelry, which I absolutely love!
Serendipitous Project has some super interesting pieces that are different from any of the others on this list. Their jewelry is inspired by classic art and nature, which they want to make accessible to their customers.
This brand was founded by Sydney Ziems (first picture above). What I love about her brand is how committed she is to sustainability. Each item is ethically sourced and handmade-to-order in order to reduce waste.
They even sell one-of-a-kind upcycled and vintage jewelry! As you may know from my other posts, I’m huge on upcycling and love that Sydney has baked the concept right into her brand.
If you want to stand out with unique, bold jewelry, this shop is for you!
Omi Woods is another new favorite of mine. There are so many interesting pieces that are simplistic and dainty yet bold and artsy all at the same time. I don’t know how they do it!
These cool pieces celebrate founder Ashley Alexis McFarlane’s Jamaican-Ashanti-Maroon heritage. So, if you’re looking for another culture-centered brand inspired by other people and places, you’ll love this one!
What’s also great about their jewelry is it’s all individually and ethically handmade. Additionally, they use fair trade African gold and globally sourced conflict-free fine metals.
This is quality jewelry made to last and be gifted, worn everyday or on special occasions, and passed down for generations to come. This is such a great mission to stand behind!
And last but definitely not least, Omi Woods is all about paying people fairly for their time and resources. Plus, every year, Omi Woods donates a portion of sales to a local or global non-profit, social organization, charity or cause like 8 Billion Trees. So when you buy from them, you know the money is going to good use.
To finish things off, let’s talk about Adele Dejak jewelry. This is the place to go for daring, striking, and one-of-a-kind jewelry. And, although the jewelry is so artistic, it’s absolutely still wearable!
Adele Dejak specializes in African inspired jewelry handmade in Kenya. Something unusual and awesome about this brand is that each piece is made from materials that different African tribes used to make ornaments and trinkets. I think that’s so cool and such a great homage to African culture.
In addition to jewelry, they also sell bags and some home decor. And I can tell you without a doubt that all of it is beautiful!
This brand was named after the founder, Adele, who grew up in Nigeria, studied in London, and later moved to Kenya. You can read more of her story here.
Lastly, this brand is all about sustainability and creating job opportunities. They work with communities in East Africa and train people so that they can have a positive impact on their communities. This is definitely a great brand to support!
That's all! Those are my 11 favorite ethical and sustainable Black Owned Jewelry brands.
I hope you’re as excited about these finds as I am. Next time I’m in need of jewelry, these black owned jewelry brands will definitely be the first places I look!
If you’re interested in other sustainable and ethical brands, be sure to check out some of my other posts about sustainable swimwear, loungewear, and lingerie.
Also, keep an eye out because I’m planning on making this a bit of a series. So check back in soon for more!
Thanks for reading and I hope you’re all staying healthy out there!
Love,
Emily