When it comes to ethical trading and operating, it seems, you can either jump on the bandwagon or conduct the orchestra.
These days, there's hardly a company that doesn't glibly claim sustainability, ethical practices or eco-friendliness in one way or another.
However, a cynic might say that this is just ‘green wash’, a marketing tool to attract an eco-aware audience, and that many organisations merely pay lip service to such issues. In other words, it's a bolt on rather than a genuine belief.
Not so at ella georgia jewellery. Our credo is that success should never be achieved at the expense of others, and that ethical principles should govern a business in a multitude of ways. If you share this view, we think you’ll find we’re playing your tune. (read more)
Hello again. The fact that you're reading this page indicates that you have a conscience as well as an innate sense of style. The two aren’t mutually exclusive. And we believe that beautiful jewellery and ethical principles can go hand in hand.
Making no bones about it, jewellery can be a dirty and unethical business. Many workers have to suffer long hours, poor wages, appalling working conditions, abuse, harassment, discrimination and more. Their paymasters give little heed to the destruction of forests and natural habitat should they stand in the way of silver, gold, gemstone or mineral extraction.
If you'll forgive the deep and meaningful for a moment, we genuinely strive to operate in a more enlightened manner; where we take responsibility for the way our business will impact on people and the environment.
We don't have all the answers, in fact we don't know all the questions. But we’re learning more, and doing more about it, as each week goes by.
For instance, we deal only with suppliers who operate on a Fairtrade basis, those who have high ethical standards, and those who minimise the impact of their activities on the environment.
Many of the products at ella georgia (whether made by ourselves or others) sponsor at least one social or environmental issue and many donate a percentage of profits to charities or good causes.
Additionally, we only work with designers who share our vision that jewellery can, and should, be created in a way that will benefit both people and planet.
In practical terms this means we evaluate both the designer and the product against our ethical frameworks covering environmental impact, the working conditions of all involved (right down the supply chain) and fair trade principles.
The bottom line is that we want to make something beautiful while making a difference to people's lives. Instead of fast fashion, we passionately believe in creating treasured pieces that are crafted with a conscience. For us (and if you've read this far, we suspect you think likewise) it's all about looking good without feeling bad. (hide this)
