We just debuted a new line of Fair Trade jewelry from Ecuador in our shop this week created from eco-friendly Taugua and Açaí nuts. 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 nuts, thus it is a sustainable source of income for the communities.

The jewelry also 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.


Acai Seed Dangle Earrings - $35.00 In Store Only


The Açaí seed comes from the Açaí Palm found in the lush rainforests of South America. This palm grows mainly in swamps and floodplains and is approximately 45 to 90 feet tall. 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.

Tagua Slice Necklace $35.00 - In Store Only

The Tagua nut comes from the Ecuadorean Ivory Palm, 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 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.

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.





Check out the great video above showing the story behind the jewelry. The opening scenes are from one of the artisans homes in the rural community of Illuman, in the Andes. You'll see the designers and artisans having their semi annual dinner party (this time a pig roast!) and then working on new designs for spring.

Then join the designers on a journey into the Tagua forest in the coastal region of Ecuador! You'll see how the farmers climb into the trees on hand made ladders to knock down the excess seed pods and watch as they split open the seed pod to reveal the raw tagua inside. From there they travel on to a work shop to see how the dried tagua is cut, dyed and made into bracelets.

Next, the designers are back developing new products in the village of Pucara. Things get a little emotional during the big meeting in the following scenes, where everyone takes time to give thanks and talk about how their lives have changed drastically over the last year.

We hope that you'll love this new collection of handmade jewelry as much as we do, stop by our showroom soon to have a look for yourself, or give us a call at 1-866-804-1909 with any questions.

Posted by: AJ (aj@pfeiferstudio.com)

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