The 15 Best Sustainable Jewelry Brands for Ethical Shine

In big industries like fashion, it’s more important than ever for consumers to ask questions. As we continue to learn more about the ever-evolving subject of sustainability (opens in a new tab)you have to be familiar with what that means in each sector – and for many, the rules around ethical jewelery are even less known than those of ready-to-wear.

Fortunately, the jewelry brands below incorporate sustainability into every part of their business model. They source materials ethically and adhere to fair labor practices. They also offset their carbon footprint by minimizing the materials they use and waste. Keep scrolling to discover the brands that are helping to shape and change the landscape of sustainable jewelry.

soko

Soko, a B-certified company, is a women-led jewelry brand that connects Kenyan artisans to the global market through their online platform. When making their jewelry, they use materials like teak wood and salvaged bones from a collective of Kazuri women in Kenya.

Soko shop (opens in a new tab)

No thanks

Founded by Australian sisters Gena and Naomi, No Thank You is a brand inspired by daydreams and the duo’s love for craftsmanship. Each piece of jewelry is handmade with repurposed materials like vintage, recycled, and second-hand beads. The brand also offers individual collaborations to help buyers design custom pieces.

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Ana Luisa

Ana Luisa’s philosophy is that high quality jewelry should not cost the planet. The brand is climate neutral, meaning its carbon emissions are offset during the production process. By supporting certified water restoration projects, the brand has restored 2.5 gallons of water since January 2021. Ana Luisa also actively donates all imperfect pieces to Dress for Success. (opens in a new tab)an organization dedicated to empowering women across the United States

Ana Luisa shop

Studio The Touch

Studio La Touche offers eclectic handmade designs produced in small batches in the founder’s home art studio. Recycled brass and copper, raw and polished gemstones and exotic wood pieces are some of the materials used throughout the collection.

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Futaba Hayashi

Futaba Hayashi’s jewelry is inspired by Japanese-inspired minimalism. Jewelry is made in New York, using the highest quality refined gold materials and ethically sourced gemstones.

shop Futaba Hayashi

Omi wood

Omi Wood’s jewelry is handcrafted using fair trade, African-sourced gold and silver from casting houses. The collection is a tribute to the designer’s African roots, made with the intention of being passed down from generation to generation.

Omi Woods shop

Pamela Love

In 2007, Pamela Love founded her eponymous label in Brooklyn, New York. Despite its rapid growth, Love has maintained a conscious jewelry ethos, routinely using post-consumer metals, off-cuts and scrap metal in its collections. She also empowers artisan entrepreneurs globally through her work with organizations like Turquoise Mountain (opens in a new tab).

buy Pamela Love (opens in a new tab)

wwake

Founded in 2012 by New York designer Wing Yau, the production of Wwake is entirely local. This allows Yau to carefully oversee the manufacturing process and keep the brand’s carbon footprint as low as possible. As a women-owned and operated jewelry company, Wwake’s goal is to help empower other women in the industry.

Wwake shop

British things

Brite Things was started by New York visual artist Vanessa Nikcole Pére. She offers handmade and made-to-order jewelry that takes over two weeks to produce. Materials include repurposed pearls, hand painted glass pendants and high quality AAA freshwater pearls.

Brite Things shop

Emri Studio

Emri Studio produces small-batch, made-to-order jewelry that is handcrafted in New York City. Each piece is an ode to youthful and colorful accessorizing. Most of Emri Studio’s materials are seamlessly sourced from small businesses and manufacturers across the United States, while its unique charms are sourced from international artisans.

Emri Studio store (opens in a new tab)

Pura Utz

Founded by Anna Waller Andrés and Bernabela Sapalú, Pura Utz (opens in a new tab)focuses on empowering Mayan jewelry makers. With the brand’s support, artisans based in Guatemala are earning a full-time income three times the market norm in the region.

Pura Utz shop

Stella Neon

Stella Fluorescent is a collaborative design studio based in San Francisco, co-founded by Tiersa Nureyev and Erik Hilburn. Each piece of jewelry is handcrafted using eco-friendly materials such as natural fibers, dyes and ethically mined metals. Many of the brand’s pieces are made to order and produced locally in the Bay Area.

Stella Fluorescent shop

LDM

MLD is a Melbourne-based jewelry studio. Pieces are handcrafted and made to order in sterling silver and solid gold. MLD does not follow trends, creating simplistic and persistent pieces, resulting in a more sustainable wardrobe.

MLD shop

GLDN

GLDN was founded in 2016 to bring more accessibility to the luxury jewelry market. The brand offers affordable prices, diverse sizes, and customizable choices. Each piece is handcrafted with 90% recycled metals, while the brand donates 10% of each purchase to charity.

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Monique Vinader

Monica Vinader prioritizes durability, despite her wide selection of styles. As a member of the Responsible Jewelery Council (opens in a new tab), the brand guarantees ethical working conditions, such as fair wages and working hours, employee rights, as well as occupational health and safety. The brand is also associated with family workshops, which allows for an intimate and transparent manufacturing process.

Monica Vinader Store (opens in a new tab)