The 2017 Fair Luxury conference
Recognising an unmistakeable desire for conversations about responsible sourcing and manufacturing - and fuelled by the positive feedback we’d received on our inaugural conference in 2016 – it wasn’t long before plans were underway for a second event.
To learn more about our legacy - from the UK's first ethical jewellery conference to today, check out the long-read blog post.
25th - 26th April 2017
Hosted by Birmingham’s Assay Office, Fair Luxury 2017 was a two-day event further encouraging a dynamic platform for debate, providing an atmosphere of collaboration between open-minded individuals who wished to be part of a trailblazing movement.
Delegates represented all facets of the jewellery industry and we were fortunate to hear from a wide range of presenters on a diverse range of topics, including child labour, the environmental impact of mining, consumer engagement and life as an ethical jeweller.
Different voices
We listened to the views of miners, manufacturers, designer-makers and retailers. Big brands like Pandora and DeBeers spoke alongside SMEs and small independent business owners like Arabel Lebrusan, Anna Loucah and Harriet Kelsall.
We learned more about other organisations like Jewelry Industry Summit, Incorporation of Goldsmiths and Ethical Metalsmiths, recognising the potential to collaborate to become greater than the sum of our parts. This broad and eclectic mix of backgrounds was ideal for fuelling intense discussion, but also for offering one another a better perspective of the issues faced by companies both large and small.
Bringing like-minded people together
Attendees were invited to engage in Q&A, participate in workshops focussing on ‘mine-to-market’ topics, and swap ideas, views, concerns and business cards. The energy in the building was palpable, especially during the time allocated ‘after hours’ specifically for networking (and a glass of wine!)
Also covered were a viewing of Fair Trade Gold Mining in Colombia, a short film by April Doubleday, and the crowning of the winner of the Ingle & Rhode 2017 Fairtrade Gold Design Award.
By the end of Day 2 we were satisfied and exhausted in equal measure, very proud to have created a tangible buzz and immense enthusiasm within our audience. Our speakers had informed, educated, enlightened and inspired, and many useful connections had been made.