Sustainability
Recycled, upcycled, sustainable, ethical… All these words have been very trendy to use lately.
Just like with organic food… it sounds good and we all want to say we eat organic.
I hear more and more business owners advertising that they sell recycled jewelry, upcycled fashion, they have a sustainable business and source their materials ethically 😉
They have one thing in common, they all represent what the fashion industry needs, but in reality, is falling short on.
Sustainability improves the quality of our lives, protects our ecosystem and preserves natural resources for future generations. Going green and sustainable is not only beneficial for my company; it also maximizes the benefits from an environmental focus in the long-term.
By creating jewelry from usually discarded bits of rubber and plastic and by sourcing my materials locally or when I am already traveling, I feel like I am making a small but significant step towards a cleaner ocean and a healthier world. I don't purchase conflict-gems. I package my jewelry in re-usable canvas bags or paper boxes. There's no extra cost for carbon-neutral shipping through Shopify Shipping. When you purchase a shipping label that has an origin address in the United States, the cost of offsetting the carbon emissions from your shipment is covered by Gogh Jewelry Design. These are just a few things I chose to do to have a sustainable business.
Regardless of who we are, where we live, and what we do, we all have a moral obligation to each other, our future generations, and other species to sustain the planet. Our present choices and actions have huge long-term impacts on future generations. Practicing sustainability ensures that we make ethical choices that bring a safe and livable future to everyone.
The importance of the oceans and Mother Earth in our lives is something I am very passionate about. That is why I created a line of jewelry (Zero Waste Collection) that repurposes scuba diving parts into an expression of our love for the ocean and scuba divers.
I do not feel that I am giving up anything for the planet, but rather that I think about Mother Nature and make counties choices to keep her safe both in my personal life and when I make choices for Gogh Jewelry Design.
I avoid disposable plastic as much as I can, so they do not end up in the ocean strangling a turtle, whale or seal…
Yes, I would love to see more recycled jewelry, upcycled clothing, sustainable fashion and ethical businesses succeed in the world of Fashion.
To have a sustainable business, it really starts with our individual choices. I find that our businesses are the reflection and result of our beliefs and desires.
I use refillable water bottles. I pack lunches in washable snack bags instead of zip-locks. When I buy shampoo or any products, I opt for bulk rather than small, multiple packages. I keep canvas bags in my car, so when I am shopping, I do not take plastic bags from stores I avoid helium filled balloons for birthday parties as those end up in the ocean. I do pick up trash I see on my way and conduct beach clean-ups above and bellow the surface.
I re-use, re-purpose everything in general.
I am sourcing my jewelry materials locally or when I am already traveling, so I can reduce the number of fossil fuels used to get them to my studio.
Some other ways that I strive to run a sustainable business is using as little plastic as I can, so I use canvas bags for packaging and paper products for shipping.
How I give back: I spent the past 20 years not once or twice, but every year (except the last one due to covid) personally showing up and working with at-risk inner-city youth both taking them scuba diving and providing beads and tools to create jewelry for their loved ones around V-day, Mothers Day, Xmas... I am a volunteer inspirational speaker and show up for carrier days at shelters and inner-city schools. 
