The pandemic has definitely changed everyone’s perspective on fashion. Be it a shift to shopping less clothes or opting for brands and garments that are eco-friendly and sustainable, consumers have come to realize that clothing waste heavily contributes to the world’s pollution problem and climate change. In a report by the BBC, fashion “accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions.” This encompasses the full life cycle of a garment: let’s say a dress from production to day-to-day wear until it’s been discarded.
But when we think of sustainable fashion, we usually think of clothing pieces or shoes and bags, and not necessarily accessories. One brand that plans to inspire the local jewelry scene to shift to more sustainable practices is Penny Pairs. The influencer-favorite label launched a gorgeous collection of minimalist ear cuffs, rings, and necklaces that were made from 100 percent recycled silver and plated with 18k gold. Even the pearls and precious stones used were sourced “conflict-free” to adhere to the brand’s ethics code.
Ariana gold hoops, price unavailable; Julia gold huggies, price unavailable; Lucu gold hoops, price unavailable; PENNY PAIRS, pennypairs.com
Loulou silver necklace, P2499; Marina silver necklace, P2399, PENNY PAIRS, pennypairs.com
Inspired by the dreamy sunrays at “golden hour” during Philippine summers, the collection is uplifting, youthful, and meant for everyday wear despite it being demi-fine jewelry. And the fact that each piece is produced in small batches to lessen excess stock and waste makes them even more special.
Star silver ring, P1299; Moon silver ring, P1299, PENNY PAIRS, pennypairs.com
In this exclusive interview, we got to talk to Penny Pairs Marketing Manager Danee Torres about the brand’s new commitment to sustainability and why it’s also important to shop cruelty-free and earth-friendly when it comes to jewelry.
Sustainable fashion is pretty well-known, but people aren’t so familiar with sustainable jewelry. What do you mean by “sustainable jewelry” exactly?
"Our sustainable jewelry has a base metal of 100% recycled silver taken from qualified manufacturing plants globally. This means we lessen carbon emissions and mining. We also make sure that all of the gems or crystals we used are sourced conflict-free. For example, the pearls we use are cultured and farmed, meaning they’re not taken from their natural habitat in the ocean.
"More than that, we make sure that every piece meets the EU’s REACH (restriction, evaluation and authorization of chemicals) regulation, which ultimately reduces the amount of harmful chemicals in the environment."
What made Penny Pairs decide to start a sustainable line?
"With the state of our current environment today and the increasing typhoons we experience, we realized that we want to do more for our community than just creating beautiful jewelry—we want to take steps to make an impact in a good way. It’s really one of our core values as a brand and we hope to fully transition into only sustainable products in the future. We also hope that in making the extra effort to produce our products sustainably, we’re able to inspire people to live sustainably and brands to make it the norm.
Grace gold cuffs, P1799; Althea Opal gold huggies, P1439; Lila Opal gold huggies, price unavailable, PENNY PAIRS, pennypairs.com
"We also hope to grow our brand even further by not only continuing to create demi-fine and sustainable jewelry but also using our platform to make a difference. At Penny Pairs, we know that creating products sustainably is only the first step and we always hope to do everything we can as a brand to make an impact in a good way. Last April 22, on Earth Day, 100% of our profit was donated to a reforestation project with For The Future."
What are the benefits of shopping sustainable jewelry? Why is it important for people to consider shopping more pieces like these?
"One of the biggest benefits of shopping our sustainable jewelry line is knowing that these pieces are manufactured in a place that has no child labor, discrimination, decent working hours, a living wage, and occupational health and safety.
"More than just what the products are made of, we truly believe that sustainability is about making ethical choices that are for the good of the community and the future. People should consider not only what their purchases are made from but also how they’re made."
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
