Environmentalism is one of the core pillars of Tapestry’s mission. We aim to be stewards of the land we occupy and guide our couples to do the same. Lucky for us, we have found so many vendors who share this mission, including Valerie Madison Jewelry. Let us just put it out there: WE LOVE VALERIE MADISON! We have used her designs in quite a few styled shoots and are an advocate of her thoughtful and mindful approach to jewelry design. The digital marketing coordinator at the time was more than happy to share how Valerie Madison’s environmental mission is enacted into their design process, stone selection, and client relationships. The brand’s passion for beautiful and sustainable jewelry speaks for itself in the article below.

— Kelleen, Tapestry Marketing Director

MEET VALERIE MADISON + HER INCREDIBLE MISSION

Growing up in Seattle, Valerie has always appreciated her beautiful surroundings and environment. She went on to obtain a degree in Environmental Science + Resource Management from the University of Washington. While she was studying, she learned about the devastating impact gold mining has on the environment, and the communities who live near and work in the mines. When she took a metalsmithing class in college and became hooked, she realized she could combine her creative outlet with her passion for the environment and founded a small jewelry company and used only recycled metals to create her works.

You know how Prince claimed he didn’t really listen to other people’s music because he found it distracting? Valerie has cultivated a sense of taste that is uniquely her own based on minimalism, balance, symmetry, sleek design, and her goal is to turn that creative eye towards classic styles to bring them into the modern era. She’s also always challenging herself to update and tweak her existing styles so they feel unique. She is trying to disrupt the status quo and bring something fresh to the table, while creating new modern classics, and she does so while always incorporating recycled metals into every piece. Right now, she’s really championing vibrant gemstone engagement rings, which we think is going to be the next big thing.

THE VALERIE MADISON CUSTOM JEWELRY PROCESS

Valerie creates incredible unique designs. Her custom engagement ring work allows for a collaboration between what a client desires in their dream ring and Valerie’s design aesthetic. The process starts with a gem and setting; we talk with a client about what stones appeal to them for their taste and lifestyle and which setting styles they enjoy, and find them the perfect stone if we don’t already have one in our inventory. Then we design the ring for the client, once our client confirms the details of the finalized design, we cast it and it’s ready to go! Our customers are a part of the process the whole way through. 

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF JEWELRY

Many couples, when shopping for wedding jewelry, don’t think about the environmental impact of their choices but that’s beginning to change. Historically, gold and gemstone mining has had horrific effects on the earth, from poisoning water systems, to producing toxic waste and high carbon emissions, as well as devastating indigenous communities. Valerie learned about these destructive effects in college and wanted to provide an alternative to mass-produced jewelry so that clients could make an informed decision about what’s right for them. Here at Valerie Madison, we can control how our gold is sourced as well as our diamonds, and that’s obviously important to us as we focus on ways to do that while reducing our negative impact.

When you’re looking at buying eco-friendly jewelry, you want to be able to determine where your gems came from, where the metal came from, and examine if the business you’re supporting is ethical and taking steps towards transparency. This takes a little bit of research but is worth it so you can both look good in your new heirlooms and feel good about them, too. Many of our clients really enjoy knowing the full story of their pieces. For some folks it is really important to know where every component of the ring came from. The jewelry industry still has ways to go before it is fully transparent but we can help customers if they’re looking for a more eco-friendly recycled diamond or sustainably-mined Canadian diamond. 

HOW TO BUY WEDDING JEWELRY WITH THE EARTH IN MIND

There are multiple factors couples can look for when buying jewelry through an environmentally mindful lens. In order to lessen your impact, it’s important to look at where your gold comes from, where your stones come from, and what kind of business you’re supporting.

We pride ourselves on transparency and take special care to source stones from accredited vendors who hold themselves to strict standards. The diamonds we use are often Canadian or recycled, but if we can’t find the perfect stone, the diamond will be sourced in compliance with both the United Nations and the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme which we acknowledge isn’t perfect but it’s a start.

If you don’t want a diamond at all there are lab-created alternatives like moissanite that are gorgeous and just about as long-enduring as diamonds. We don’t offer lab-grown diamonds because we don’t believe the huge carbon energy output to produce them makes them better and we truly are gemstone lovers here.

When it comes to metals, it’s very difficult to find a gold mining operation that isn’t in some way unethical or unsustainable. That’s why we opt to use recycled gold; there’s already plenty of gold above ground that can be reused and reworked into something precious.

And finally, a very important factor: do you connect with the business itself that’s producing your jewelry? You want to connect with the values of the business you’re supporting and connect with the style of the designer. If you find an ecologically-conscious ring that ticks most of your boxes, but misses the mark in terms of its design, you may not be completely satisfied. It’s also always a good idea to shop locally. When you visit local jewelers your carbon emissions are lessened and you support your local economy. Purchasing from another state, or overseas, will increase the carbon footprint of your jewelry.

MOST IMPORTANT FOR BUYING SUSTAINABLE JEWELRY?

Do! Your! Research! Find what matters most to you, you want to connect with a  designer who fits with your personal style as well as your ethics. You want to find a designer whose story you believe in and a product that’s beautiful and that you absolutely love. 

— Brynne Overton, Valerie Madison Jewelry