People are becoming more interested in making careful jewellery purchases rather than impulse ones. They want to understand the provenance of a particular piece of jewellery. In this blog, we take a look at what artisan jewellery is and why it is important for those who are wanting to accessorise more consciously.
What is artisan jewellery?
The word ‘artisan’ is used frequently in many conversations, but it’s important to have an understanding of what it actually means, especially in relation to jewellery.
Artisan jewellery is made by highly skilled craftsmen and women across different geographies and celebrates their talents and creativity. Each piece is individually crafted and can be made from a number of materials, including precious metals and natural stones.
Here at Milina London, we work with skilled artisans and small cooperative workshops in the United Kingdom, India and Mexico to source and create our jewellery collection. We collaborate with them directly to ensure quality and to handpick the very best designs.
Why should you buy artisan jewellery?
Support talented individuals
One of the most rewarding parts of purchasing artisan jewellery is knowing that you are supporting skilled craftsmen and helping them continue doing what they love. You also help encourage future generations to learn the skills and carry them on. A lot of love goes into each handcrafted piece of jewellery and the designs are unique from more typical high street stores.
Good quality
Artisans take great pride in their work and give their utmost to each piece they make. They always use high-quality materials. Their attention to detail is impeccable - an artisan works to personally create each individual piece of jewellery, rather than it just being mass-produced by a machine. This means the jewellery is more intricate and has been made with genuine care. This usually also means that each piece is of very high quality, finished with a lot of love and pride and is always a piece of art.
Sustainable and ethical methods
Artisans usually learn their skills at a young age and carry them on for future generations. When supporting artisans we feel that we also encourage their children to learn the skills and want to continue the craftsmanship. Future generations learn to take pride in traditional jewellery making methods, thus making handcrafted jewellery sustainable. When working with individual artisans and artisan families, we can ensure that all our pieces are made ethically.
Unique designs
When buying artisan jewellery, you will buy more unique pieces. As each piece is handcrafted, it is not widely available. Also, no two pieces are completely alike so you will have something that is truly one of a kind!
Make a stand against mass production and fast fashion
Our fast-fashion footprint is becoming increasingly important and something that needs to be taken into consideration. Mass-produced jewellery can use vast amounts of energy, the production process may not be entirely ethical, and it can promote a culture of buying a piece to wear it just once.
On the other hand, although artisan jewellery is a little more of an investment, you are making a lifetime purchase. It is of high quality, unique and beautiful - something which can become a staple in your accessories collection and allow you to make a stand against mass-produced jewellery.
You can read more about the story of Milina London and our artisans here, or why not start your artisan jewellery journey by browsing our new arrivals?
