Blimey, that past 4 day week felt like at least a 7 day week.

Why does the planning at the beginning of each year make one feel as though it will be the busiest ever? We only make and sell jewellery but with a creative team like my lot, we always seem to have another idea to realise.

Its Sunday, we’ve had a bit of a day but you don’t need to know about that. The week ahead is so exciting I have to share.

Two and a half years ago I was approached by a NGO from Holland with the promise of ethically mined gold. The first response from me was that we had been here before. It started well but after we had designed a small collection which was to be made from this ethically sourced gold (for which we were paying a total premium) it became very clear that the flow was more like a trickle. We were told that between deliveries we may have to wait up to 6 months. I don’t care how ethical it is, if someone has ordered an engagement ring, putting off the big day while we wait for a guy and a knapsack to turn up for months on end just doesn’t wash. Anyway fast forward two and a half years and the Dutch chap assured me that the idea was to source a product that reached the jeweller in a timely and consistent way. I signed up.  

Over the past 2.5 years David (my brother) and I have adjusted our business to be able to accept the gold while carrying on business as usual. To cut a long story short as my friend Gary Kemp would say. We are there. On Tuesday, David and I fly to Lima to trace back to the source our supply of ethically mined gold.

The communities who mine the product have worked with Soladaridad (mouthful I know) for the past four years, in order to change their lives. The miners are paid properly and the women are paid for the first time. No child labour and no harmful chemicals. David and I are so excited about this trip I can’t tell you. I will be writing a diary and a blog so keep em peeled for the first instalment. 

SW