Fair Luxury at IJL

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading source="post_title" font_container="tag:h3|text_align:left" css=".vc_custom_1523290770768{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row gap="10"][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="428" img_size="full" add_caption="yes" css=".vc_custom_1564614242598{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}"][vc_column_text el_class="caption" css=".vc_custom_1564614296186{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}"][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]For 2019 at London’s annual jewellery fair we presented a series of talks covering different aspects of responsible sourcing with both practical advice and news of inspirational projects to explore how both small organisations and international collaborations can and are bringing about real change:Gold with HeartDavid Finlay, Manager, Fairtrade Gold, Fairtrade FoundationFairtrade Gold promises benefits for mining communities, the environment and gold-buying businesses. But what do these benefits look like in practice? And what first steps can businesses take to benefit from a relationship with Fairtrade and small-scale mining communities? This talk answered these questions and pointed towards the future direction of travel for Fairtrade Gold in the UK and beyond.Using Partnerships to Bring Traceable and Responsibly Mined Gemstones to the International Jewellery MarketStuart Pool, Nineteen48Stuart presented the Moyo Gemstones project - an ethical gemstone collaboration born in Tanzania between Nineteen 48, Pact and Anza Gems to bring traceable, responsibly mined gemstones to the international market which really benefit artisanal mining communities. They are developing relationships and processes with the female artisanal gem miners of the Uba Valley to deliver their rubies, sapphires, tourmalines, and garnets from mine-to-market and working to empower women miners to work safely, mine better, improve financial security, and create stable, equitable markets for fair trade.Responsible Sourcing for Small Jewellers: Easier than you ThinkLevin Sources and Fair LuxuryThis practical seminar gave actionable strategies for jewellers to develop policies and procedures to live up to their ethical commitment, transform their own business and gain a competitive advantage in a market where jewellery customers are increasingly keen to purchase ethical, sustainable and compassionate pieces.This inclluded the steps on the journey to achieving an ethical supply chain - assessing existing suppliers and practice, drafting ethical policies, considering human and environmental impact and communicating ethical commitment to an increasingly questioning jewellery buying public. Our expert panel showed from experience how it can be done.Rosanna Tufo, Researcher and Project Manager, Levin SourcesSusi Smither, Founder, The Rock HoundArabel Lebrusan, Founder, Lebrusan StudioStuart Pool, Founder, Nineteen 48[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]