Sustainable and ethical jewelry
Sustainable and ethical jewelry means transparent and responsible sourcing practices and use of sustainable materials. Elleca jewellery that is handmade in Kenya tries to have minimal impact on the environment, our pieces are made from 80% recycled silver.
Our mission is to empower local craftsmen and create employment so our policy is strictly fair trade, where by our craftsmen and women get to decide their own wages.
Picking the right jewellery has the power to transform the look and feel of your entire outfit. How often do we stop to think about how our jewellery was made? – Where did the materials come from? Whose hands has it touched? What environment was it made in? Whose lives has it affected? How long is the jewellery going to last.
Wearing a forever piece of jewelry reminds me how much we should love and respect our planets gifts. We need to have as minimal impact on the environment as possible.
Anita Nyamizi — CEO of Elleca
We’ve all been disappointed at how quickly our poorly made costume jewellery pieces tarnish or turn our fingers green. Unfortunately, the fast fashion industry has brought about a culture of repeatedly buying poorly-made ‘trendy’ jewellery that is thrown out after a few wears, wasting resources and exposing ourselves and the producers to toxic materials along the way.
CHOOSE THE MOST SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS POSSIBLE
Silver can easily be melted and reformed into a new piece of jewelry. It doesn’t lose it’s qualities when melted down and reused—which is great from both an environmental and financial standpoint. Here at Elleca we buy old silver pieces from antique stores in Kenya to reuse the silver for our pieces.
Recycled silver jewelry is better for the environment because it doesn’t require mining. It doesn’t require the use of cyanide solvents to separate it. It isn’t associated with damaging the environment or polluting nearby waters.
It also gives a second life to that antique brooch or damaged necklace so they’re not fated to just add to growing solid waste streams. It allows us to see precious metals as exactly that: precious. It gives silver the chance to shine again and teaches us that we shouldn’t be so cavalier in our treatment of these materials.
GIVING BACK TO THE PLANET
At Elleca, we’re constantly looking for ways to operate with transparency and reduce our environmental impact. We believe that with privilege comes responsibility – that’s why we’re committed to taking care of our planet and encouraging you to do the same.
We’d like to enter a collaboration with a Tree planting NGO for the Future, we have already decided to plant a tree for every piece we sell. And thanks to customers like you, we’re excited to plant a tree for every piece of jewelry sold.
