ABOUT
I discovered art created with intricate bead embroidery in Tel Aviv in 2009 and immediately fell in love with the way in which unusual stones and tiny beads created and told their own inimitable story. The craft quickly turned into a passion and I broadened my knowledge by exploring the artistry of jewellery, drawing inspiration from music, nature, traditional Indian techniques such as Zardosi and Aari, as well as African, Native American and Mexican bead-work. I began teaching myself various techniques of bead embroidery and, in the process, developed my own unique style.
The Designs
The designs are delicate, but fierce. Each design is created with the wearer’s comfort in mind and is a collection of traditions, techniques, stories and passion. Every piece is 100% handcrafted and can take hundreds of hours to complete. Exquisite natural stones such as onyx, lapis lazuli and quartz are at the centre of every piece and accented with Swarovski crystals and pearls to add extra sparkle.
I strive for uniqueness in design and, therefore, many of the items available are one of a kind. This means that only one piece in that design has been, or will ever be made.
All items are ungendered and non-seasonal and ALL my products are vegan.
Stones
I love natural crystals and believe that they have healing qualities that balance the body, mind, and spirit. I search for the most beautiful stones with powerful vibrations around which to create my pieces. I cleanse them before production with natural sea water and after production with crystal healing sounds so that when you receive your piece it is fully vibrational and ready to align with your energy.
Impact
From the very beginning, it was important for me to find a way to produce in an ethical and sustainable way that would have a positive impact. This led me to partner with Mission Creative Million, a movement designed to impact one million female creative producers in India over the course of 10 years. This project aims to address the root cause of rural poverty in India by establishing ownership-based manufacturing enterprises for majority women micro-entrepreneurs.
In early 2019, I travelled to India to begin the project and set up a work centre in a rural area of Jaipur. I spent weeks training a small group of female artisans in my own techniques and designs and was inspired by their ability to pick up new skills with ease. Upon completion of training, production commenced and these artisans skillfully handcrafted the many of the pieces that that are available on this site.
I hope to maintain and grow this project and take on more artisan trainees with time.
What I Believe In
I believe my products should look and feel amazing. Because style choices have a real impact on people and the environment, I aim for transparency and ensure that there is nothing unethical happening behind-the-scenes.
I am also very selective about the artisan groups and small-scale factories I work with and ensure that they are run in an ethical manner. Ethical production involves only working with partners that operate in a socially responsible manner, and observing practices like:
- No child labour allowed
- Safe and healthy working conditions.
- Paying fair wages.
I have also chosen to use vegan materials for my products, so that means only faux and vegetable leathers and suedes are used.
Lakkota Jewellery is available to clients around the world.