Environmentally Correct Jewelry Needn’t Look Like Peasant Wear
With Earth Day landing today, it’s time--once again--to rethink what we wear, says environmentally minded jewelry designer Susan Cummings of Ojai.
Of course, animal products are out, and anything that harms the rain forest isn’t worth supporting. But before you throw on a straw shirt and bamboo clogs, consider other options.
Environmentally correct wear can be tasteful and refined.
How about buttons or jewelry carved from tagua , a nut harvested from palm trees in northwest Ecuador? The inside of the nut is known as “vegetable ivory” because it has the resemblance and consistency of ivory.
Tagua is carefully harvested without causing damage to the rain forest, says Cummings, and proceeds support conservation programs and provide economic opportunities for the people who live there.
“They can harvest a sustainable product rather than cut down the forest,” says the 42-year-old designer.
And, says Cummings, this stylish ivory substitute allows elephant and walrus tusk “to stay where it belongs, on living animals. It protects the animals, and it offers people a conscious choice to buy a product that has a philosophical benefit and meaning to it.”
The artist, who donates a portion of her sales to nonprofit environmental groups, will be at Neiman Marcus in Fashion Island Newport Beach at 10 a.m. Saturday to show three new collections of sterling silver jewelry.
The pieces in the For a Better Earth collection are accented with emerald chips and stones, and include a seven-strand charm bracelet ($545), post earrings with mom and dad charms ($95) and a star-motif ring ($240).
The Elements collection has charms with the words love, family , preservation of nature, respect for wildlife and peace stamped along with hearts, peace signs, liberty bells, animals and other symbols.
“All are elements of life,” Cummings says. There are clip earrings with recycling motif charms ($150) and a double-strand bracelet promoting education, nonviolence and the family ($495).
The Rain Forest collection pieces are accented with watermelon tourmaline. Included in it are a two-strand necklace with frog, bird and butterfly charms ($310), a matching bracelet with parrot and pansy charms ($250), and clip earrings with fern, orchid and butterfly charms ($240).
Also at Neiman Marcus on Saturday, teen-age members of the Tree Musketeers, an environmental group, will give seedlings to everyone purchasing earth-friendly products.
Susan Cummings, jewelry designer
* Age: 42
* Home: Ojai
* Formal training: None
* Where she started: At a card table in her Santa Barbara apartment, selling to friends
* Where she is now: Her items are sold exclusively at Neiman Marcus
* Signature style: Environmental or endangered-wildlife themes
* Medium: Primarily silver sterling and precious stones
* In the future: Developing clothing and gift lines
* Attitude: “There is no reason for us to be abusive to the environment to create viable products.”
Source: Susan Cummings
