Ethical in Action

The Source team has chosen to repost this event as we fully support initiatives such as this one that is raising awareness around ethical gemstone sourcing as well as raising funds for organizations working towards equity in the jewelry industry. Be sure to follow the Ethical in Action instagram and Columbia Gem House Instagram to see the design competition and then the Benefit Auction of all the unique pieces! Thank you to all the participating jewelers (find their social media accounts below) for leveraging your collective generosity and talents to help others.

Chloe Beaumont— Editor-in-Chief

The Source reposting with the permission of Columbia Gem House and Ethical in Action co-organizers Alisa Thorpe and Sabrina Hoffman. Note: Columbia Gem House is run by Eric Braunwart, who is on EM’s Board of Directors.

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Independent Jewelers and Columbia Gem House Collaborate on Design Competition and Benefit Auction

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Caption: First group of designs for the Ethical in Action initiative via jeweler’s instagram accounts. To see each design in the competition, see the linked instagram accounts below. Image credit: Sabrina Hoffman

Towards the beginning of summer 2020, Susan Fauman, owner and sole metalsmith of Susan Fauman Jewelry, was starting to think more deeply about how to be more responsible and “ethical” in her studio practice and business. Considering herself an independent “bridge” jeweler she - and many other makers like her - use stones that are more organic in shape, untraditionally cut, included, and…untraceable. She reached out to Eric Braunwart, owner of Columbia Gem House, to ask a few questions. Eric generously gave her a few hours of his time, sharing many of the insights he has gained from decades in the industry, most of which have been in the service of advocating for community and workers rights and safe working conditions across the globe where his company operates.

That initial conversation led to many more conversations with Sabrina Hoffman, another maker and owner of Dally + Toil, who also works inside Columbia Gem House. Together, they hatched a plan for attempting to raise more awareness across the industry and to consumers alike about the problems of human exploitation that impacts gems and jewelry. 

This gave birth to an Instagram account Ethical in Action and their inaugural project: an invitational design challenge which will culminate in an auction benefiting three organizations devoted to increasing access to justice and equity in the jewelry industry. Columbia Gem House generously provided gemstones to 25 designers who will contribute their time and metalsmithing skills to the cause. 

Starting on Thanksgiving 2020, there will be a battle-style bracket vote through the stories on Columbia Gem House’s instagram account, where the winner will win a $250 gift card, and 2 runner ups a $100 gift card for  Columbia Gem House. 

Starting on Giving Tuesday, the pieces will be posted on the Ethical in Action instagram with information and the backstory on pieces and their designers for review. The auction will be held on that account from December 4 – December 6. 

The three organizations this will benefit are as follows:

We Wield The Hammer – Focuses on representation and support of women and girls of African descent in becoming skilled at metal fabrication, along with extending the program to Senegal, Dakar.

Peoples Training and Research Center – Focuses on justice to victims of occupational (including gem and jewelry industry) and other fatal diseases in India through various activities.

Bonded Labour Liberation Front – Focuses on addressing bonded and child labor issues by carrying out awareness campaigns, organizing regional and national seminars and partners with international organizations to combat modern slavery, injustice, illiteracy, inequality, and poverty in South Asia.

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Caption: Second group of designs for the Ethical in Action initiative via jeweler’s instagram accounts. To see each design in the competition, see the linked instagram accounts below. Image credit: Sabrina Hoffman

“Columbia Gem House generously provided gemstones to 25 designers who will contribute their time and metalsmithing skills to the cause.”

Jeweler Participants Instagram accounts:

@shoshannahfrank

@eastcampgoods

@llmexclusive

@blavkjewelry

@solidtreasures

@angelymartinezjewelry

@chaseandscoutjewelry

@jessjewelry

@taylorsaleem

@reneefordmetals

@cindyliebel

@mercuriusjewelry

@margotwolfjewelry

@marilynbrogan

@sarahideko

@sunnyrisingleather

@jonesingforjewelry

@sweetbellajewelry

@clementineandsage

@ghosttownmetalworks

@tessarandjewelry

@silentgoddess

@susanfauman

@dallyandtoil

@bijules

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Editorial Sections

• Education 4
• Excavations 6
• Findings 25
• Guest Author 8
• Illuminators 33
• Of the Earth 7
• Repost 34
• Saskia Shutt articles 7

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