More Than a Name:
The Movement Behind Community for Ethical Jewelry
By Brandee Dallow
On January 1, 2025, Ethical Metalsmiths (EM) officially turned the page on a name that has carried us since our founding in 2004 and became Community for Ethical Jewelry. This shift reflects not just who we’ve become, but who we’ve been all along.
At its heart, this change is about more than branding. It’s about belonging.
From Movement to Community
Ethical Metalsmiths began in 2004 as a call to action by Christina Miller and Susan Kingsley, two educators, artists, and advocates who met in Vermont and dreamed of transforming the jewelry industry from the ground up. They were joined early on by environmental lawyer Jennifer Horning, who in 2006 led EM to become its own non-profit. Together with leaders from Earthworks, the organization that launched the No Dirty Gold campaign, they formed the bedrock of a grassroots effort to confront harmful mining practices and advocate for transparency and responsibility in the jewelry supply chain. In 2006, EM helped pass a resolution within the Society of North American Goldsmiths supporting responsible mining, a critical early milestone.
From those beginnings, EM launched powerful programs that continue to define us. In 2007, we introduced Radical Jewelry Makeover, a traveling initiative that turns donated, forgotten jewelry into new creations while educating participants about sourcing and sustainability. In 2009, we added So Fresh + So Clean, a student-focused exhibition series that celebrates experimental and sustainable design, objectively exploring how our practices intersect with environmental concerns and human health. These programs, and the spirit behind them, remain central to our identity.
Over time, our scope expanded. While our beginnings were rooted in educating the jewelry community about the negative impacts of gold mining, our vision has grown to embrace the full spectrum of ethics in jewelry, including environmental stewardship, personal safety, human health, and diversity of all kinds. From research on safer studio practices to initiatives advancing equity, sustainability, transparency, and impact, our work reaches far beyond sourcing alone.
Today, our community includes educators, suppliers, students, retailers, miners, designers, marketers, and so many others. We connect not just jewelers, but everyone who cares about the ethics behind what we wear and create. We’ve become more than a network of practitioners. We are an active voice in a global conversation about values that shape the future of jewelry.
Why the Change Now?
We didn’t choose the name Community for Ethical Jewelry lightly. The conversations behind it were thoughtful, inclusive, and spanned nearly two years. We wanted to honor our legacy while opening our arms even wider to those who may not have seen themselves in the word “metalsmith” but who are every bit a part of this work.
I’ll be honest - I’ve spent my entire career in communications, not in a mine, and certainly not at a jeweler’s bench. For G-d’s sake, I can barely thread a needle. But what drew me in, and what keeps me here, is the people. It’s the shared compassion, the deep respect for humanity, the land, our communities, and the individuals throughout the supply chain who make this industry possible. It’s our collective heart.
Whether you’re a small-scale miner in Tanzania, a student crafting their first collection from recycled materials, or a consumer searching for meaning in the pieces you wear, you belong in this community. And now our name reflects that truth.
What Hasn’t Changed
Our mission remains the same: to inspire responsible jewelry practices through education, connection, and action.
Our vision still guides us: a jewelry industry that protects people and the planet, uplifts communities, and celebrates transparency from source to wearer.
And our cornerstone programs, from Radical Jewelry Makeover and So Fresh + So Clean to our/this editorial platform (The Source), are continuing to grow with fresh energy, new voices, and a renewed sense of purpose.
We’re still the same organization you know and trust. We’ve just stepped more fully into who we are.
A Name That Reflects Our Values
The word “community” means shared purpose. It means coming together with care, with respect, and with accountability. It means recognizing that no single stakeholder, no matter how powerful or well-intentioned, can shift an entire industry alone.
That’s why this name matters.
It reminds us that we’re not just practitioners. We are voices in a global dialogue on ethics, championing equity, sustainability, transparency, and positive impact. It anchors us in values that transcend origin and invites the entire industry, from mine to market, to join the conversation.
What’s Next?
This is only the beginning. In the months to come, you’ll see our new name reflected across our website, programs, events, and storytelling. But more importantly, you’ll see us continuing to show up, together.
As we step into this new chapter, we do so with deep gratitude for those who built the foundation, and with open arms to all who will help shape what comes next.
“We are a small team of passionate jewelry industry professionals and writers. We’d appreciate your support to grow our team and continue to be able to provide the best responsible jewelry content for years to come!”
Editorial Sections
Chloe interviewed Jessica Hudson of The Nomad Jeweler on her latest collection that features ASM Colombian gold and Tahitian Kamoka pearls. Read the full article to learn more about Jessica’s story and why she chose to design with traceable artisanal gold and sustainable pearls.