Education
Sustainability
As a manufacturer and retailer of fine jewellery, it is of the utmost importance to Natalie Marie Jewellery that we create responsibly, source mindfully and ensure that all of our pieces are produced sustainably and ethically. Sustainability may be trending in the fashion industry right now but for us it has always been a priority to handcraft our beautiful jewellery as sustainably as possible – especially in an industry that has a reputation for being slow in finding its ecological conscience.
The fast fashion industry has supported a culture of devaluing well-made, thoughtfully purchased jewellery in favour of disposable, seasonal pieces that have a limited lifespan. We believe that – akin to art – jewellery should hold meaning and sentimental significance. We want our customers to invest in their own NMJ piece because they feel connected to not only the aesthetic of the piece, but the story behind it.
The intention to create consciously is part of our DNA.
Handmade to order
Jewellery should be as individual as the people, stories and milestones they signify. It is for this reason we choose to craft every piece to order. Creating our jewellery predominantly in-house is a time and labour-intensive approach to production, however it gives us complete control over the process - from sourcing and production to setting, finishing and packaging, and it also means we can minimise the amount of waste within our work.
We create one sample per season and then every single piece ordered in-store or online is made specifically for the customer. As an extension of this, our select curation of wholesale accounts orders a set number of pieces per season, which are then handcrafted intentionally for them using their chosen materials.
Our studio practices
We try to consider each step of the process regarding our internal practices and their ecological impacts. When it comes to shipping our orders, we are working towards eliminating single use plastic as much as possible by sending all of our parcels in 100 per cent recyclable boxes or bubble mailers that are biodegradable, sourced and made in Australia. We aspire to implement a recycled/recyclable ring box, and hope to offer this to our customers in the near future. In the meantime, we suggest keeping your ring boxes to safely store your precious pieces.
Our trusted suppliers
We are, however, aware that the supply chain does not start with us, and that we have a responsibility to understand every element of where our materials are sourced, how they are obtained and what is involved in each step of the process.
Over the last few years, we have invested time and resources in assessing our entire supply chain thoroughly; seeking expertise and education to ensure we can improve upon our practices and tread as lightly as possible. Throughout this process we have forged strong and trusting relationships with our suppliers, which are paramount to our continuing growth and development as a responsible jewellery company. We always aim to be transparent with our community and, as sustainability is a journey not a destination, we are continually looking for ways to improve our practices.
We are on a journey
When you choose NMJ you do so with the confidence that we’re doing all that we can to make the right choices and connections on behalf of you, our customer, to ensure that the piece you own is innately conscious. We take great pride and care in crafting each piece for our customers – in rendering ephemeral moments tangible – and understanding the value and significance that they hold. As a company, we are continuously building on our sustainability practices, and we welcome any feedback or suggestions our customers may have.
Thank you for walking this journey with us.