dani of the desert

These days, it's become normal as consumers to buy cheap products that are less expensive, which allows us to buy more and more. As you know, certain companies offer almost every item you can imagine, delivered straight to your door.. But do we consider the cost to the environment when we shop like this? As a consumer, I don't support fast fashion so as a small business owner, I want to make sure my brand aligns with my values and goals in sustainability and ethical fashion. See below to find out more about Melting Desert's sustainability efforts, ethical sourcing, and slow fashion. ⁠

Quality > Quantity: The key to sustainable fashion is investing money on few quality products instead of spending money on cheaper & cheaply made products that need replacing more often, creating more and more waste and pollution from the cradle to the grave. My sterling silver products are made with mostly recycled .925 silver, making these bold pieces durable, long-lasting, and a more eco-friendly option. Each piece is lovingly made by hand, so each piece is unique and made to endure decades, if cared for properly. If your sterling silver jewelry does break, repairs are entirely possible. Or, it can be recycled again into a contemporary piece!

Slow fashion is a consumer movement that encourages sustainable habits for consumers and producers alike. Slow fashion brands prioritize ethical sourcing, sustainable practices, supports fair wages, and the mindful consumption of products. It  isn't time-based, but quality-based. I make small-batch, handmade jewelry, source my materials ethically, and my production and business practices prioritize ethics and sustainability.

SUSTAINABILITY: The 925 sterling silver I source is produced from recycled silver and copper (read more below under "Ethical Sourcing"). Additionally, the smithing process is fairly sustainable as excess silver material is easily recycled, silver holds its value, is long-lasting, can be repaired or recycled if damaged. Lastly, I safely collect and save silver dust and other waste for recycling or safe disposal (i.e. my pickle waste-  sodium bisulfate contaminated with copper).

ETHICAL SOURCING: My silver is recycled and certified conflict-free and traceable. I currently purchase my silver from Rio Grande, who sources their silver from what are called secondary refineries. There’s a lot more to it, but essentially all metals need to be refined before we can turn them into products. Some refineries source their metals directly from mines (we’ll call them first generation refineries, much more environmentally toxic), other refineries purchase recycled scrap metals from businesses and individuals and refine that material (secondary refineries), which is where my silver comes from. This is a much more sustainable source because it allows the jewelry industry reduce waste, lower energy consumption, and decrease the need for environmentally toxic mining practices that rely on extremely exploitive labor practices that often rely on slavery and labor-trafficking. 

Thankfully, Rio Grande purchases their silver only from secondary refineries, who audit all their materials and certify them as conflict-free and traceable. Although these trusted secondary refineries never source materials directly or knowingly from mine refineries, I must note that the silver lots they purchase, at times, might have first generation silver in it. There’s no way to test it out, but according to economists, there’s apparently very little first-generation silver circulating in the U.S. because most of the silver mined here is a byproduct of mining other metals, so it's not a huge concern.

CABOCHONS: I have found some vendors (lapidarist) who mine and cut the cabs themselves, which assures an ethical and conflict-free product. I also do my best to source from the most reputable vendors and mines, but there is old stock turquoise out there that occasionally circulates and it's not always possible for vendors to trace their material's mining origins. I do my absolute best to source my cabs ethically and prioritize purchasing from vendors who mine and cut their own cabs. Additionally, my interest in glass fused and other, recycled material like found-bone is increasing, which are ethically sourced from the artists themselves. 

Lasting Impacts on Environment: Silver is recyclable. Unlike many trendy jewelry materials, silver is obviously a natural metal that can be repaired or recycled time and time again while maintaining value. Silver jewelry lasts generations, if cared for properly. If sourced sustainably and ethically, silver is an ideal material for quality and eco-friendly jewelry that can be passed down for generations.