A drive has been launched to rescue those tangled chains, unmatched earrings and banged up bracelets sitting at the bottom of jewellery boxes around Scotland and give them a glittering new future.
The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust (SGT) and Ethical Metalsmiths have teamed up with art colleges to bring the Radical Jewellery Makeover (RJM) – a community jewellery mining project which started in the USA – to the UK for the first time.
It’s a fun and faced-paced initiative that helps reduce the environmental impact, and other harms, associated with the sourcing of the materials often used in commercial jewellery.
Between now until January 7 the RJM Scotland team is asking people to ‘mine’ their jewellery boxes for unwanted items and either pop them in the post or leave them at a drop-off point.
They will then be transformed by jewellery and silversmithing students and tutors into fresh, responsible and beautiful designer items. The pieces they create will go on show in an exhibition and sale in Glasgow at the end of March, with proceeds funding further efforts to educate and connect people with responsibly sourced materials.
As a ‘thank you’ donors will receive a discount coupon to put towards something new.
Karen Westland, SGT’s Ethical Making Programme Manager, said: ‘RJM is a great way to recover all the unworn, unloved, unfashionable and broken jewellery – or pieces that are no longer your style – that are lurking at the bottom of boxes, bags and drawers and give it a fresh chance to glitter.
‘At the same time we want to highlight the creativity of Scotland’s makers and designers, while raising awareness and inspiring action around climate change, fast fashion and sustainability.
‘Much of a product’s social and environmental impact is down to the materials that are used. Choosing materials that are ethically and sustainably sourced is critical to reducing our impact on the environment.
Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) jewellery student Ramsay Pagett, melting donated old jewellery into silver ingots for re-use (Photo: Colin Hattersley)
‘Combining responsible material sourcing with innovative design transforms how and why we make and creates a sustainable, stronger legacy of making for the future – a future of making that can help fight climate change and inequality.’
The idea of bringing RJM to Scotland came from SGT’s student ambassadors who were keen to build on the outcomes of COP26 by developing a circular economy initiative that would turn waste and unwanted materials into useful and desirable new pieces.
The students and staff taking part come from The Glasgow School of Art, City of Glasgow College, Edinburgh College of Art, Fife College, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design and Glasgow Kelvin College.
Among them are Honor Dodd and Ramsay Pagett from ECA.
Honor said: ‘The Radical Jewellery Makeover is a really exciting and refreshing way to upcycle jewellery and get students involved in taking direct action to counter the effects of fast fashion and accessories.
“’ate change and the human impact on our earth, I’m glad programmes like this are taking the initiative to get students involved in a hands-on manner in ways to reduce our impact on the earth and do what we can for future generations. This begins to set a precedent and show what can be done.’
RJM has been working with communities since 2007, educating jewellers of all levels about mining and material sourcing issues involved. It draws attention to local designers, reveals the stories behind our personal collections and encourages people to rethink their habits of consumption.
Materials used in jewellery production are often sourced from some of the poorest countries in the world, from sacred lands and disputed territories – often at great cost to the environment.
Karen Westland, ethical making programme manager at the Scottish Goldsmiths Trust, with a solid silver ingot (left), made by melting down donated recycled solid silver (Photo: Colin Hattersley)
RJM offers an informed and creative alternative and donating even the smallest items for reuse and recycling can help.
The project is a practical outcome of SGT’s Ethical Making Pledge which was launched in 2018. Signed by the seven Scottish art colleges teaching jewellery and silversmithing at HND level and above, it signifies their commitment to integrating ethical making into their courses.
The pledge’s success led to a parliamentary motion of support from the Scottish Government and interest from other institutions internationally. A key factor of the pledge is that each educational institution appoints student ambassadors to promote ethical making.
The Ethical Making Programme also includes an open access resource, www.ethicalmaking.org, for jewellers and silversmiths and consumers wanting information about what ethical making means, why it is important and ways to adopt an ethical approach in their creative practice.
To donate jewellery of any quality, quantity or material type go to the SGT website where you can fill out an online form, no printing required. Once you have filled out the short online form you can either drop off your donation at one of the locations below or post directly to us. Jewellery donations can either be mailed to the below address of the Scottish Goldsmiths Trust, or dropped off at any of the available locations. Visit HERE for all the details on how to donate.
Mailed donations can be sent to Clockwise Offices, FAO The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust, Commercial Quay, 84 Commercial Street, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6LX. Please clearly mark your name on your donation packet so we can pair it with the form.
Public drop-offs can be made at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA), C/O Radical Jewellery Makeover, Evolution House Reception, Central Campus, 78 West Port, Edinburgh, EH3 9DF; or Fife College, C/O Radical Jewellery Makeover, Jewellery Department, Glenrothes Campus, Stenton Road, Glenrothes, KY6 2RA.
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