I was amazed on my recent shopping trip to Windsor at the amount of floorspace dedicated to jewellery displays. In one store it was quite overwhelming since there were racks and racks of free standing display units draped with all the colours, shapes and styles under the sun to suit all wardrobes and personalities. The display moved onto hand bags, scarves and other accessories, everything you need to dress up that new suit or evening dress.
A woman's paradise really since lets face it, where there is jewellery, there are normally females drawn like bees to a honey pot!

I could not help feeling like a child in a sweetshop wanting to look at everything drawn by the opulent colours dripping from the stands. I do not remember this much jewellery being available and it made quite an impression on me. It was like walking into Aladdin's cave. There are two things that really struck a chord with me. Although this high street jewellery is affordable, it is mass produced and supplied nationally so there are high chances that when you go to the company party someone somewhere shall be wearing an identical necklace or bracelet.

So my first issue is the originality of mass produced jewellery. My second train of thought is about the people who have made this jewellery. Is it cheap because it is mass produced in sweatshops with poor working conditions? We do not know and many of us do not have the time to stop and think. We just need to buy that necklace for that dress for that function. We are consumed by the pressures to look good imposed on us by the materialisms of the western world. My view is that to ensure originality, I now see the logic behind buying hand made jewellery.

There are lots of really affordable jewellery out there that have been hand crafted in the UK by people with a natural flair for jewellery design. OK, some are expensive, the top end designer jewellery but there are still really appealing jewellery in the mid price range. Having recently gone to Stonor Park craft fair, there must have been around 15 stands selling hand made jewellery. No two designers were the same, there were elegant silver designs, chunky glass designs, wooden beads and dichoric glass earrings and pendants to name but a few. At least with hand made jewellery, every piece is truly unique since it has been made lovingly by the person who crafted it. It gives great peace of mind that the item is original and will be admired for its workmanship quite evident in all hand made jewellery. As far as cheap labour goes, the only way to guarantee jewellery has not been produced in a sweat shop is to explore the world of fair trade jewellery.

When an item is fair trade it means that the product, whether it is a pottery bowl, a basket or a silver necklace, has been exchanged for a fair wage. It means it has been hand produced by highly skilled people who are using traditional methods passed down through generations.

So actually, we do have a choice on what and where we buy our jewellery. Hand made fair trade jewellery is easily accessible from various boutiques and online shops and is also modestly priced, elegant and stylish. At least when buying this, we know it is what it says on the label, fair trade.

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