five years later...

this poor blog. 

i have so many ideas but i've never put them here.  hopefully that is about to change. 

since my big move to Michigan, i've had to come up with new strategies to stay in touch with regular clients and find new ones, and one of those strategies is putting new designs here - even custom and one-of-a-kind pieces - to better represent the varied nature of my work.  yes, i will still post Dejahmi jewelry, but also pics of my other jewelry lines (higher and lower price points) as well as home decor, art, jewelry, furniture, and whatever else strikes my fancy.

my favorite vendors and suppliers will also find attention here.  so many of us who are commited to sustainable practices and products work on an indie scale.  small though we are, we are a very loyal bunch, and love giving repeat business to other folks we believe in.  when i come across people i like to work with i will JOYFULLY share them with you.  i'm not about keeping my fave and fabulous ethical sources a secret - there is enough room for everybody who is committed to quality and care, and i look forward to growing this community of like-minded folks!

this post is just a small step to making this blog a larger part of my life.  cross your fingers for me!

Newbie

So, in case you haven't noticed, I haven't posted anything in over a year. Dejahmi is still up and running, I'm just crap at blogging.

I have been very inspired lately by my sister's blog, http://www.letters-of-the-living.blogspot.com/ and want to try to do better. I've been thinking a lot lately about the things that hold me back, and one of those things is my personal insecurities around perfection and my lack thereof. Although this is a blog primarily about my business, I have decided I will discuss my personal struggles and growth in relation to business as well as just facts about upcoming shows and new materials. I am trying to remember that everything is always in the midst of change (even business) and the world might be a better place if we kept that in mind.


I don't want to expect perfection from myself or anyone else since it isn't possible. Instead of striving for perfection, I'm going to strive for accountability. That means there may be posts here about my struggle with whether or not to use pearls in my designs since they are an animal product and I am a vegetarian. I only use Fair Trade or upcycled pearls which helps me feel better about participating in an industry that is so dangerous to human workers, but does not address the mollusks. I welcome your comments and look forward to hearing your opinions and possibly your own personal struggles with trying to live up to your own standards.



We all have to make our own decisions about where to draw the lines we live by. But I like to think I am constantly learning more and incorporating those lessons into my belief system - and that is a process. For those who are interested, I'll be sharing some of that process here. Feel free to join me.

Let the games begin...

Sustainability Position Paper

Sustainability:
The ability to provide for the needs of the world's current population without damaging the ability of future generations to provide for themselves. When a process is sustainable, it can be carried out over and over without negative environmental effects or impossibly high costs to anyone involved.

(definition taken from http://www.sustainabletable.org/intro/dictionary/#s)

Dejahmi strives to create beautiful jewelry that is competitive in the fashion/luxury market but is also sustainable at every level of production by using fair-trade and recycled components and incorporating well-paid, safe labor conditions. Dejahmi’s current market includes boutiques and galleries that sell small batch, handmade items to customers who want pieces that are unique or artist made. We also sell to individuals who look for products that decrease negative impact on ecology and economy by using sustainable labor and materials in their production. Dejahmi jewelry is not just “eco-neutral”, but “eco-positive.” By using materials from Sustainable projects all over the world, and developing a well-paid US labor force with people who do not fit into the traditional job market (such as single mothers and the disabled), we are contributing to the rebuilding of a stable, more personal, economic environment.

Reflecting the best the world has to offer, our jewelry’s beauty comes not just from its luxe materials, but also from the relationships that bring it together into finished pieces of wearable art. These human connections are mirrored in the handmade wire links that connect every component. The beads, metals, pearls, and filigree are produced by hand all over the world* by artists who work in safe environments, are paid a living wage, and participate in the healthy growth of their communities. Much of the luxury product industry is destructive to the lives of those who produce it. Our goal is that every life that comes in contact with Dejahmi will be bettered, leaving the world a better place than we found it, just like our Mommas taught us.

Dejahmi jewelry incorporates Fair-Trade (FT) Precious Metals, FT Freshwater Pearls, FT Recycled Bottle Glass, FT Gemstones, and various other Recycled components (Vintage Glass Beads, Recycled Wire, Vintage Chain, etc…). We also include Swarovski Crystal because it is manufactured and not mined, therefore it does not have the same negative ecological impact that the mainstream gemstone trade does. Our research shows that Swarovski has very good labor, humanitarian, and environmental records. When we want to use a fun color or shape that isn’t available to us in Fair-Trade gems, we use Swarovski.

Beth Respess, the Owner and Designer of Dejahmi, grew up in a very socially and politically aware household. She was torn that she was so drawn to design instead of more traditionally “service-oriented” work, until she connected how horrible conditions were in the production side of the garment and accessories industry. A friend once said to Beth that she didn’t know there were sweatshop issues with jewelry. Beth replied, “If you can make something, you can exploit someone else to make it.” By developing a company that offers high quality jewelry with sustainable practices, Beth can express and explore her love of design while still feeling like she is “giving back” to society.

*Materials from Social and Economic Development Projects in China, Indonesia, India, Ghana, Thailand, and the USA. Fair-Trade and/or Recycled pedigree is available on request.

What Makes Dejahmi Green?

MATERIALS

Fair-Trade Stones, Pearls, Metals

Recycled Wire

Repurposed Vintage and Antique components

Recycled Bottle Glass

100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper

FLEXIBILITY IN DESIGN

Multipurpose pieces

Trend-friendly, but not dependent

Mix-and-match for greater flexibility

PACKAGING

Reclaimed burlap from coffee shops

Thai silk from Women’s Co-op

LABOR PRACTICES

Fair wages

Paid job training

Jobs for those left out of traditional job market

ORGANIZATION

Biofuel heated studio

Carbon offset for shipping and travel

CRADLE-TO-CRADLE THINKING

Jewelry made using wirework can be taken apart and reassembled
so that any design that doesn’t sell (or that I decide to take off the shelf
for any other reason) can be broken down. The beads can be reused
in otherdesigns, while the bits of silver can be melted down and
reused in othercomponents. There is little to no industrial waste,
even for discontinued products.

on a personal note...

Dejahmi was begun as a way for Beth to work from home during
the beginning of very serious health issues. It was literally life
sustaining for her at the time, and will continue to be for those we
employ as we grow, creating opportunities for those who
otherwise might be unemployed or underemployed.