Sustainable Production
We invite you to watch a short video which illustrates our commitment to sustainability in the production of our fine jewelry collection:
Our bio-jewelry line is made with real plants, which are harvested by hand – in the wild or in private farms - naturally dehydrated and coated in layers of hypoallergenic 18-karat gold. The production of the pieces uses responsible sourcing practices and has a minimal impact on the environment. Like snowflakes, each piece is truly one-of-a-kind, which adds to the sophistication and charm of the collection.
SHOP BY PLANT
    
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MISSION
Our mission is to promote a more sustainable lifestyle, promoting a bio-jewelry line which does not compromise beauty and elegance and has a lesser impact on the environment and/or on the workers who produce it.
HARVEST
Some of the plants utilized in our collection are privately cultivated; for others we partner with experienced leaf pickers from the Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah region) who share our same commitment.
The leaves are harvested only at the right time, in order to respect the cycle of nature and ensure the continuity of the species. We are very proud to contribute to the income for these artisans who play a fundamental role in preserving this ecosystem.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Our artisans have a water treatment plant to ensure that this important resource used in the production of bio-jewelry can be treated and reused. As a result, an average of 14,400 liters/year are reused preserving the environment even further.
HEALTH
Our clients’ health and well-being are top priorities for us. The CARLA SHAW Sustainable jewelry collection is free of heavy metals like nickel and cadmium. Nickel is one of the main components that cause skin allergies, so our bio-jewelry is hypoallergenic. Cadmium is also toxic and a suspected carcinogen.
THE TEAM
A skilled team of expert artisans with years of experience hand make the beautiful pieces in the CARLA SHAW jewelry collection (Minas Gerais, Brazil)
WHAT DOES “18-KARAT GOLD” MEAN AT CARLA SHAW?
Our sustainable jewelry collection is made with real plants, manually harvested, dehydrated, and layered in 18-karat gold.
To make it simple to understand, the more thousandths of a millimeter (or microns/µm) in gold used in the layering process (also known as the “weight of the gold”), the better quality/long-lasting the piece will be:
- 1 - 2 µm: low quality
- 3 - 4 µm: good quality
- 5 - 7 µm: great quality
- 8 - 10 µm: excellent quality
The CARLA SHAW jewelry collection pieces vary from 6 – 12 µm depending on the style, batch, and individual piece. Therefore, all pieces are guaranteed to be of great, excellent, or beyond excellent quality.
HOW ABOUT THE SILVER AND RHODIUM?
The handcrafted silver pieces in the CARLA SHAW Sustainable Fashion collection are made by preserving real plants in silver and rhodium.
Rhodium (Rh) is a rare, silvery-white, hard, and corrosion-resistant metal that is a member of the platinum group. It is one of the most valuable precious metals in the world; more valuable than gold or silver. Rhodium doesn't tarnish and is hypoallergenic.
Rhodium (Rh) is a rare, silvery-white, hard, and corrosion-resistant metal that is a member of the platinum group. It is one of the most valuable precious metals in the world; more valuable than gold or silver. Rhodium doesn't tarnish and is hypoallergenic.