Ecouterre » Eco-Friendly Jewelry

Represent Your City with Hanger 3′s Recycled Subway Token Necklaces

Lori Zimmer — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:00:40 +0000

Fashion and transportation history collide with Hanger 3′s line of quirky necklaces, which designer Dustin Wood fashions using vintage subway tokens from around the country. Representing cities from Conestoga, PA, to Beaumount, TX, each piece of ephemera bears a unique, city-specific design, courtesy of the transit designers of yesteryear. Wood pairs the tokens with a well-worn ball chain that complements their vintage patina. Not a bad way to add some local color to your wardrobe or to show your allegiance to greener commutes.

+ Subway Token Necklace $13.99-$39 (originally $19.99-$42) at Fab.com
+ Hanger 3

Hot Off the Presses: Necklaces Made From Vintage Letterpress Type

Jasmin Malik Chua — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:00:24 +0000

Typography geeks, wordsmiths, and lovers of the alphabet will fall for the charms of Gwen Delicious, a Canadian accessories label that fashions necklaces from vintage printing-press type. Burnished with scuffs and other imperfections that make each piece unique, the repurposed brass blocks are strung from a gunmetal chain and secured with a toggle clasp for ease of wearability. Dangled around your neck with the type obscured, the pendant’s identity isn’t immediately obvious. Then again, do you really need to spell everything out?

+ Letterpress Necklaces $37
+ GwenDelicious

3D-Printed Necklace Features Slots For 100 of Your Shiniest Pennies

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:00:20 +0000

Pennies are good for more than squashing on train tracks. Dutch designer Michiel Cornelissen likens them to “little industrial gems”—the perfect components for statement jewelry, in fact. His do-it-yourself coin necklace is a three-dimensionally printed bauble with slots for holding 111 5-cent Euro coins, which are made of copper like American pennies were pre-1982. “Copper can oxidize and become darker over time, which can actually give a great look,” Cornelissen says. “If you prefer lighter, shinier coins, submerge them in vinegar for a few minutes. Stir well, rinse the coins in hot water, and dry them. It’s magic.”

+ Coin Necklace €55
+ Michiel Cornelissen

[Via MocoLoco]

Coca Rocha, Senhoa Design Jewelry to Benefit Survivors of Sex Trafficking

Amanda Coen — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:00:33 +0000

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Fonderie 47 Recycles Confiscated AK-47 Rifles Into Luxurious Jewelry

Helen Morgan — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:00:32 +0000

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MuKee Recycles Broken Skateboards Into Edgy Wooden Jewelry

Lori Zimmer — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:00:41 +0000

Any skateboarder worth his deck goes through boards faster than bullets slice through butter. Rather than let them go to waste, Denver-based label MuKee transforms castoff boards into one-of-a-kind wearables that are as much a feast for the eyes as they are to touch. From earrings to belt buckles, each accessory flaunts every scratch and scuff from its action-packed past, with every kickflip and “ollie” further defining the character of the weathered wood. To add even more visual interest, MuKee peels back the painted surfaces with hand-engraved designs, including its signature bird motif. The best part? The prices, which start at an affordable $24.

+ Mukee Designs

Upcycle Broken Christmas Lights into Sparkly Holiday Accessories

Tiffany Threadgould — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:00:55 +0000

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Peace Bomb’s Resolution Wrap Helps Post-War Laos Get a Fresh Start

Jasmin Malik Chua — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:00:32 +0000

Bike to work. Unplug on weekends. Binge less. Floss more. No matter what your New Year’s resolution, Peace Bomb’s vintage-silk wrap offers a tangible reminder of your pinkie promise to yourself. Crafted by Laotian artisans, each wristlet comes with a hand-cast tag derived from Vietnam War scrap metal, along with a card for writing down your resolution. Plus, for every one you buy, Project Peace Bomb will clear a meter of bomb-littered land in the beleaguered nation. Finally, a promise you can make good on.

+ Resolution Wrap $16
+ Peace Bomb

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HJ Designs Upcycles Used Plexiglass Into Glittering Cocktail Jewelry

Kirin Rinehart — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:00:01 +0000

Hazel Studstill had always loved creating jewelry, but she never expected a cruise past a dumpster to prove so serendipitous. After discovering a cache of discarded plexiglass on its way to destruction, the industrious metalsmith decided to transform the hard, clear plastic into baubles fit for a fancy soiree. The collection, which was inspired by geode-hunting “out West” as a child, marries hand-carving techniques with gold and silver leafing for extra sparkle. Available as a single or double necklace or in the form of a cuff, no two pieces are alike. And unlike other cocktail adornments, your conversation starter comes with a built-in story.

+ Upcycled Plexiglass Jewelry $42-$74
+ HJ Designs

Mikuti: A Socially Active Jewelry Label That Supports Tanzanian Artisans

Amanda Coen — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:00:48 +0000

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La Diosa Debuts Eco-Friendly Friendship Bracelets for Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:00:20 +0000

Help one of the world’s most beloved statesmen raise funds for his final legacy project: a state-of-the-art Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital that will provide South Africans with quality pediatric care regardless of social or economic status. In collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, British jeweler La Diosa has created a series of friendship bracelets based on characters and colors that make up the nonprofit’s logo. Ethically crafted in five colors—red for love, yellow for happiness, black for peace, and blue for protection—each bracelet comprises woven silk thread and a recycled-silver charm to evoke the attributes African children desire most. Plus, some of the proceeds will go towards building the facility, granting the four dedicated pediatric hospitals in the entire continent of Africa some measure of reprieve.

+ NMCF Bracelet £39
+ La Diosa

Polli Creates Decorative Jewelry Stand From Salvaged Timber

Jasmin Malik Chua — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:00:09 +0000

Why shouldn’t your jewelry organizer be as much of a work of art as the treasures that adorn it? Polli’s accessory stands feature silhouettes inspired by the Amsterdam skyline, Australia’s native gum trees, and coral reefs, all laser-cut from locally salvaged hardwood. Each piece provides an architectural backdrop for your precious bits and bobs, while looking good enough to go commando on its own.

+ Jewelry Stand AU$89.95

+ Polli

Give the Gift of Green With a Terrarium Necklace (DIY Tutorial)

Jasmin Malik Chua — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:00:05 +0000

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“Pick a Jewel” by FIFT Transforms Found Objects into Jewelry

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:00:49 +0000

Ever wished you could turn a perfect leaf, quirky knickknack, or beloved memento into a piece of jewelry? There’s an ~~app~~ clamp for that. “Pick a Jewel” by FIFT is a necklace affixed with a tiny clip that allows you to transform lovely objects from your everyday life into cool, one-of-a-kind jewelry. Wear a rosebud from your garden on Monday and a lucky penny on Tuesday. What a clever way to turn one necklace into thousands of different looks.

+ Pick a Jewel

+ FIFT

[Via NotCouture]

Bullets2Bandages Recycles Fired Military Ammunition Into Jewelry

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:00:42 +0000

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Starbucks Debuts “Indivisible” Wristband to Help Create, Sustain U.S. Jobs

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:00:44 +0000

Starbucks has partnered with Opportunity Finance Network, a group of community-lending financial institutions, to launch “Create Jobs for U.S.A.,” a fund to help generate and sustain jobs in underserved communities nationwide. In addition to $5 million in seed money from the Starbucks Foundation, the fund will also solicit donations at company-operated Starbucks stores and online at www.createjobsforusa.org. As a thank you, donors who give $5 or more will receive a red, white, and blue wristband with the word “Indivisible” stamped on a metal charm. All wristbands are handmade in the United States from U.S.-manufactured components, and 100 percent of proceeds will go to OFN to provide loans to community businesses across the country.

+ Create Jobs for U.S.A.

Recycle Halloween Candy Wrappers into Colorful Eco-Jewelry

Tiffany Threadgould — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:00:26 +0000

Now that Halloween is over and you’ve filled up on sugary sweets, a ghoulish pile of non-recyclable candy wrappers remains to haunt you. Here’s a trick for bringing your dearly departed treats back from the dead: Turn the discarded plastic packaging into wearable gems. With a little bit of tracing and cutting, you’ll have brand-new, low-cost beads that will last you long after your sugar buzz is gone. Click below the fold to learn how.

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Karolin Felix Recycles Pencil Stubs Into Vibrant, Whimsical Jewelry

Brit Liggett — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:00:54 +0000

Pencils, sharpened to a nub, aren’t good very many things. If you’re Dublin-based designer Karolin Felix, however, they’re the perfect size for turning into colorful, whimsical necklaces. Sectioned into bits, each piece gets a slap of paint and varnish before it’s strung from delicate nylon thread. Pick the delicate “Pink Candy” for a small but pointed statement or opt for “Rain” if you prefer abstract motifs. Animal lover? Make tracks with “Birds” or “Cat.” No need to surprise your beau with a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils (à la You’ve Got Mail); Felix can create a one-of-a-kind accoutrement by custom-painting whatever your heart desires.

+ Pencil Jewelry $18-$56
+ Karolin Felix

Angela Lindvall, John Hardy Debut Recycled Jewelry Collection on QVC

Amanda Coen — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:00:15 +0000

Supermodel-activist Angela Lindvall and luxury jeweler John Hardy are linking arms once again, this time on a line of Balinese-inspired jewelry for home-shopping network QVC. Launched this week, the “Angela by John Hardy” collection comprises bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings, bangles and cuffs made entirely of recycled sterling silver. The pieces, which range from $79 to $500, also feature “Diamonique” gemstones (QVC’s term for cubic zirconia and other simulated rocks) and 14-karat gold accents.

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Bones and Feathers Debuts Animal-Spine Jewelry Molded From Recycled Bullet Casings

Beth Shea — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:00:04 +0000

Make no bones about it, Bones and Feathers Collective’s spooktacular—and anatomically correct—jewelry sends a shiver up our spines, but in a good way. For fall, the Los Angeles label hand-dipped wax casts of fox, shark, and rattlesnake vertebrae into molten bronze from recycled bullet casings. Designers Natalie Mauro and Nicole Morrall even threw in a bronze-cast necklace of dangling human teeth for good measure, with the purpose of showcasing a collection that “hovers between where we begin and end as humans and animals alike.”

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Kate Spade’s “Hand in Hand” Collection Supports Women Artisans in War-Torn Countries

Jasmin Malik Chua — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:00:43 +0000

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VPL’s Human-Hair Accessories Have No Need for Dead Animals

Kestrel Jenkins — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:00:07 +0000

Photos by Brennan Cavanaugh for Pinnacle

Hair today…gone tomorrow. That’s how we typically think of our own hair, right? It grows, it sheds, we cut it, and then it more or less becomes “waste.” To challenge that notion, VPL designer Victoria Bartlett whipped up a set of follicularly blessed accessories for the latest issue of Pinnacle, an anti-fur magazine founded by Discerning Brute blogger Joshua Katcher. This wasn’t Bartlett’s first foray with human hair, either. She’s previously designed a series of sweaters knit from human hair.

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Urban Lace: Delicate Jewelry Crafted from Recycled Bike Inner Tubes

Yuka Yoneda — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:00:05 +0000

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Score DLC Brooklyn’s Upcycled Necklace at Of a Kind—Only 17 Made!

Nicole Abene — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:00:05 +0000

Who says gold, silver, graphite, and bronze don’t go together? This gorgeous, entirely salvaged Votan necklace by DLC Brooklyn (neé Dirty Librarian Chains) breaks all the old-school fashion rules to stunning effect. We’d pair the 21-inch long bauble with neutral tones so that it stands out in all of its antique glory. Word to the wise: Only 17 pieces are available, so move fast if you want to snag one for yourself.

+ Voltan Necklace $110 at Of a Kind
+ DLC Brooklyn

Carved From Nuts, Rowena Murray’s Lockets Celebrate Childhood Whimsy

Nicole Abene — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:00:20 +0000

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