Find Ethical and Fair Trade Jewelry That Gives Back to Women

Growing up I was told, “Put on your jewelry last.” But as a teenager who’d rather be late to school than leave the house without her earrings, sometimes I’d put them on first (even before brushing my teeth!) so I didn’t forget. 

Jewelry is the grand finale of our OOTD (Outfit of the Day): grandma’s pearls that were passed down to you, the class ring you probably stopped wearing after high school or the necklace that matches everything you have. And as much as we love those artsy, glitzy or simplistic accessories - they sometimes come with a cost, and not just on the price tag.

Diamonds are (allegedly) a girl’s best friend, but that best friend comes with a lot of baggage like forced labor and the dangerous conditions workers are thrown into with diamond mining. It also comes with the exploitation of children and the funding of wars, also known as “blood diamonds” or “conflict diamonds”. 

It doesn’t stop at human rights - the environment takes a hit too. Toxic chemicals pollute water and soil in mining areas…the same water community members have to drink, and the same  soil that helps grow their food. The negative impact also doesn’t stop with pricey diamonds. Silver and gold can also be bad for people and the planet.

Learning all this can be overwhelming, especially for someone like me who didn’t follow the “put on last, take off first” rule and cut the life-cycle of their jewelry in half with lotion and perfume. I was constantly buying a new pair of very “cheap” earrings for almost every occasion. The word cheap is in quotations, because the cost of fast fashion is way higher than imagined. Thank goodness for fair trade jewelry being an accessory lovers starting place to fight poverty and climate change with their shopping habits. 

What’s Fair Trade Jewelry?

Fair trade jewelry is pretty much the opposite of the blood diamonds mentioned earlier.

A Fair Trade product basically means it was produced in safe working conditions by suppliers and workers (typically in underdeveloped countries or disadvantaged communities) who're treated fairly and paid living wages. It also means our environment is protected in the process. 

Since those are pretty big boxes to check, there are several independent certifiers like FAIRTRADE, Fair Trade USA, Fair Trade Federation, or World Fair Trade Organization who make sure brands and companies meet and maintain these standards. A company that wants to be certified as Fair Trade submits an application and undergoes screenings, inspections, on-site visits, and reviews of their records. Companies that meet the highest standards in social and environmental responsibility earn a fair trade seal, and are re-inspected and audited regularly to make sure they’re still meeting fair trade standards.

Disclaimer: Not having an official certification doesn’t mean a brand isn’t practicing fair trade principles. Certifications require money and resources that some small businesses don’t have currently. DoneGood.com did the research to make sure partner brands are ethical and sustainable, so you can at least shop here with a clear conscience. If you have questions about any other businesses’ supply chains, definitely reach out to the other to ask!

The dollars we all spend is the world’s most powerful force of change. Not only are fair trade products good for the folks buying them, they do good things like provide education opportunities for the hardworking people that make them. This post started with advice I received from the special women in my life, so it seems right to show off fair trade jewelry that empower special women across the world.

Ethical and Fair Trade Jewelry That Gives Back to Women 

Give Hope Bracelet from Starfish Project provides education, counseling, outreach programs, shelter and more awesome opportunities for women and girls, who are also survivors of human trafficking. For every Give Hope Bracelet purchased, Starfish Project donates one to a woman still in exploitation.

Checkout DoneGood’s Ethical and Fair Trade Bracelet Collection

Checkout DoneGood’s Ethical and Fair Trade Ring Collection

(Upcycled) Buffalo Horn* Bangle Bracelet from Hathorway supports causes and organizations that empower women in Vietnam. They also give back to organizations that support the future women leaders of the world, by donating to causes that provide education for underprivileged girls and period care to houseless women (to name a few).

*Hathorway uses ethically sourced buffalo horns and heat and oil to create their jewelry. Any leftover horn shavings are used as soil fertilizer, which helps feed people and buffaloes in Vietnam…a zero-waste bracelet!

Restoring Justice Hoops  from Made for Freedom supports the freedom and healing journeys of survivors of human trafficking through fair wages, a healthy work environment, job training and counseling.

Checkout DoneGood’s Ethical and Fair Trade Earring Collection

Milestone Anklets from Kind Karma are made by at-risk and homeless youth in Toronto. The opportunity to create jewelry helps the artisans build their futures, so they can continue to inspire future generations.

Checkout DoneGood’s Ethical and Fair Trade Anklet Collection

Ace Alexander

DoneGood Good Vibes Facilitator