Living and working sustainably is super important to me. When I started my business, there was no question about it; I wanted to make sustainable, slow jewellery.

As it turns out, I’m not the only one with a passion for sustainable adornments — consumers are shifting towards slow jewellery and slow fashion to help limit their impact on the environment. On that note, I wanted to write a little something to explain what slow jewellery is, why it’s worth investing in, and why I think it’s so, so important.

What is slow jewellery?

The term ‘slow jewellery’ refers to the speed of the manufacturing and distribution process. It’s the opposite end of the spectrum from ‘fast jewellery’ and ‘fast fashion’, which aim to distribute tons of products as quickly as possible.

To put it into context, a fashion trend cycle used to last roughly three to five years. You’d buy something fashionable, wear it for a few years, and eventually replace it with the latest trend. Nowadays, a fashion trend only lasts for a few months (you can find more info here). People are encouraged to bulk buy items and then toss or donate them a month later to make way for something new. Not cute and definitely not good for the planet.

Slow jewellery and slow fashion brands are quality based rather than time based — we choose to focus on considered craftsmanship and ethically sourced materials. Basically, buying ‘slow’ is a mentality shift; you’re choosing to invest in a high-quality piece that can be loved for a lifetime.

Reasons to go slow with your jewellery

1 – Better for the planet

As a sustainable jewellery maker, I craft pieces in small batches and focus on one-offs and made-to-order jewels. This means my business uses less energy and wastes fewer materials because I can sell every piece I make without tons of leftover stock.

I also prefer to work with recycled silver and recycled gold rather than mining 'virgin' metals fresh from the ground. Jewellery has been reused in this way for hundreds of years because, new or old, precious metals will always be precious! Keeping up the practice helps me tie my business back into the circular economy. Nothing goes to waste, either — I transform scraps of precious metal into my Unburied Hearts, Unburied Serpent, and Unburied Skull charms.

Being an independent business owner also means I have less ‘red tape’ around sustainable practices. I can make quick decisions about who to source packaging and raw materials from, according to my own values. You can get full details on my sustainable practices here.

2 – Slow jewellery lasts longer

The great thing about investing in slow jewellery pieces is their super long lifespan. This is for two reasons, the first being the careful craftsmanship that goes into it. I carve all my jewellery using traditional tools, and then I finish each piece by hand. It means I can quality check everything and really narrow in on making every detail just right.

The second reason slow jewellery lasts longer is the quality of the raw materials. Fast jewellery needs to be super cheap so people can buy more items more regularly, which means cutting costs by compromising on the quality of metals and gems. As a small, independent crafter, I don’t have to do that — my jewellery won’t turn your skin green!

I like to think slow jewellery has a long lifespan because of the buyer's mindset, too. Shoppers are selecting a piece they’ll want to wear over and over again, so they’re more likely to look after it. To find out more about caring for your Memento Mori jewellery, you can check out my jewellery care guidelines.

3 – You’re supporting a crafter and a small business

I adore supporting small businesses. When I'm not working on my own creations, I love nothing more than hitting up a craft fair and seeing what awesome treasures I can unearth. In fact, I’ve even curated edits here on the SLAB blog to showcase some of my fave independent local businesses.

For me, small businesses represent true, unbridled creativity. It's a small team of people, just making things they're passionate about. If you ask me, that's definitely worth supporting.

Buying slow jewellery from independent businesses also helps preserve traditional skills that don't necessarily work at scale. For example, I use antique tools and the ancient lost wax casting method, so my Memento Mori jewellery is more authentic. For me, a huge part of the jewellery’s value is in the hours spent handcrafting it…pulling it out of the imagination and making it real.

4 – It means so much more

This is the final reason why slow jewellery is amazing and, to be honest, I think it’s one of the best on this list. When you buy a piece of slow jewellery, you’re getting something that hardly anyone else has.

Because I design and make everything I sell, it’s much easier for me to take custom commissions from customers like you. You can even upcycle something precious that you already own rather than buying new. If you buy a piece of small-batch jewellery, you’re part of a select group of people who discovered that creator and invested in their work. It’s almost like finding hidden treasure!

Find out more about my commitment to sustainability or browse my collection of gothic slow jewellery. Got a question about how I make my jewellery? Ask away.

4 reasons I'm obsessed with slow jewellery