our story

the ac team

seeds to beads

artisans

sites we love

BASKET 0 item(s)

subscribe

seeds to beads

Andean Collection artisans handcraft these designs from natural materials that have been sustainably harvested from the rainforests and lowlands of South America. Some materials are gathered from the rainforest floor while others require a skilled farmer to climb high into the tropical canopy to harvest ripe pods. In both cases, trees are not harmed and the commercialization of these seeds helps to ensure the survival of the world’s rainforests by providing an alternative income for its inhabitants in place of logging or selling their land to destructive industries.

Through a manual, low energy process, seeds are transformed into beads, which have sculptural natural irregularities, both in color and form. Each piece is truly one of a kind.

	Açaí (ah-sai-ee)
	Açaí seeds come from the Açaí palm, Euterpe oleracea, which is found in the lush rainforests of South America. These trees grow predominantly in swamps and in floodplains, and reach heights of approximately 45 to 90 feet tall. Small dark purple berries grow in dense clusters on the palm, and each contains a single seed about 0.25–0.4 inches in diameter. The fruit is harvested for food, and is most often served as a beverage. It has gained global fame in recent years due to its high antioxidant and energizing properties. In addition, Açaí leaves are used to make various handicrafts, such as hats and baskets, and Açaí wood is often used in construction.
	Huayruro (why-yoo-roe)
	Huayruro comes from a large tree that grows in the forests of South America, Ormosia coccinea. Its seeds, naturally colored a deep red or black, are found within a pod on the tree. For generations, Huayruro has been used as a charm to attract good fortune and wealth. *Huayruro seeds are poisonous if eaten; never ingest them. Keep these seeds out of reach of small children.
	Jaboncillo (hab-own-see-yo)
	Jaboncillo are seeds whose name derives from the Spanish name for soap, “jabon,” because indigenous groups have traditionally used the seeds’ fruit 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.
	Pambil (pam-beel)
	Pambil seeds come from Iriartea corneto, 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 Pambil palm’s fruit, approximately one inch in diameter, contains the seed that is used in the AC’s jewelry.
	Tagua (tahg-wah)
	The Tagua nut grows from the Ecuadorian Ivory Palm, Phytelephas aequatorialis, or literally, “plant elephant,” and is commonly referred to as “vegetable ivory.” The medium-sized palm, reaching up to 60 feet tall, grows quickly and easily in shady, humid places hidden below larger trees. Tagua grows from regenerative pods, which emerge from the palms’ trunks. The pods are removed from the palm and the seeds are left to dry in the sun for 3-5 months before they are ready to be carved into jewelry.