Materials
Materials We Use
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| The purchase of jewelry made with natural materials encourages the
preservation of trees and of traditional forest communities. No trees are cut
down for the harvest of these materials, thus it is a sustainable source of
income for the communities. Your support provides indigenous people access to a
market beyond their communities and thus an economic alternative to selling
their land, protecting both a way of life and the world’s precious forests. |
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Tagua
The Tagua nut comes from the Ecuadorean Ivory Palm, whose scientific name is Phytelephas aequatorialis or “plant elephant”, and which flourishes in the lowlands of South America. The medium-sized palm, reaching up to 60 feet tall, grows quickly and easily in shady, humid places hidden below larger trees. The tagua nut is collected from large pods emerging from the palm’s trunk. These regenerative pods can be harvested by climbing the tree or collected later once they fall to the forest floor. Harvested early, tagua is a soft fruit resembling the inner fruit of a coconut and can be eaten. Harvested later, tagua is white and extremely hard, and has come to be known as “vegetable ivory” because of its amazing ability to be carved and polished. Tagua is a perfect natural material for making beads, buttons, and figurines; before the age of plastic, tagua was used to produce large quantities of buttons for world markets. Whether hand-dyed into a wide spectrum of colors or left in a more natural state, the versatility of this nut makes it a unique addition to any jewelry piece. |
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Açaí (ah-sah-EE)
The Açaí seed comes from the Açaí Palm (Euterpe oleracea) in the lush rainforests of South America. This palm grows mainly in swamps and floodplains and is approximately 45 to 90 feet tall. Small, round, blackish-purple fruits grow in dense clusters on the palm and contain a single large seed about .25-.4 inches in diameter. The fruit is harvested for food; most often served as a beverage, especially in Brazil, and has gained global fame in recent years due to its high antioxidant and energizing properties. Apart from its use in food, the palm has other commercial uses. Leaves are used for various handicrafts such as hats and baskets and the wood can be used for construction. The Andean Collection includes the Açaí Palm seed in various jewelry pieces. Whether hand-dyed or left their natural color, these seeds are appealing to a broad range of customers because of their unique look and delicate size.
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 | CoconutThe Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera) is grown within tropical zones throughout the world, commonly found between 26°N and 26°S, likely due to its preference for sandy soils, abundant sunlight, high temperatures, and regular rainfall. It is a large palm, growing to be 90 feet tall, with leaves that reach approximately 12 to 24 feet in length. The term coconut refers to the seed or nut of the coconut palm, which can be harvested by climbing the tree or by just waiting until the nut falls. The coconut consists of various layers or parts such as the husk, inner stone, coconut “meat”, and coconut water. These parts have many culinary and non-culinary uses. A large unripe coconut contains up to one liter of water and is often served chilled as a drink or used as an ingredient in various traditional dishes throughout the world. Non-culinary uses are numerous, such as coconut oil used in medicine and cosmetics or coconut leaves woven for baskets and thatched roofs. The beautiful brown color and natural highlights of coconut shells provide a perfect material for all types of jewelry, as well as natural buttons. |
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Huayruro (why-you-roe)
Ormosia coccinea is a large tree that grows all throughout the forests of South America. Its seeds, commonly known as huayruro, are found within a pod and are naturally colored a deep red and black. Huayruro have been used by Peruvians for generations as a charm to attract good fortune and wealth and have been historically used in adornments and jewelry. The seeds are collected from the forest floor as they fall and are found in various sizes. (Note: Huayruro seeds are poisonous if eaten; never ingest them. Keep the seeds out of reach of small children.)
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Jabon (hab-OWN)
The seeds of the jaboncillo plant are shaded in deep browns and blacks, and their perfectly round shape makes them a wonderful natural bead. These seeds come from a tall tree most often found in the Ecuadorian provinces of Imbabura and Esmeraldas, characterized by lower elevations and a more temperate climate. Most often the seeds are collected by locals from the forest floor as they drop from the trees. The seed has the Spanish root name “jabon”—soap—because the seed’s outer shell has historically been used as soap. The more frequently the beads are worn, the darker and glossier they become, due to contact with natural oils in the skin. A quick rub with mineral oil will heighten their shine as well. |
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Pambil
Iriartea corneto is one of the grandest palms of South America. As a canopy tree, it grows about 60 to 105 feet tall, but from the bottom appears much like the “walking tree”, Socratea exorrhiza, because of its stilt roots. The pambil palm is an essential resource for the Quichua culture of Peru and Ecuador. Its wood is used for constructing houses, lances, bows, and blowpipes, and the leaves are woven into roofs of native huts. The fruit of the pambil palm is approximately 1 inch in diameter and contains the seed, which is commonly used by indigenous cultures for jewelry. The Andean Collection includes pambil that is either dyed an array of gorgeous colors or left its natural ivory color. |
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