New York— Reciprocity Jewels, a collective of designers committed to partnering with artisanal miners in the Amazon, is set to return to New York City Jewelry Week. Their exhibition will feature panel discussions, receptions, and a showcase of responsibly sourced jewelry.
The group aims to revolutionize the jewelry supply chain by prioritizing ethical and transparent sourcing, notably featuring Peruvian gold traceable directly to the miners who extract it.
The exhibition will include more than 20 independent jewelry brands from around the globe, each showcasing traceable pieces. Participating brands include:
- Andrea Jose
- Assorted JJAR
- Barbosa
- Clarisse Rassi
- Cocoerow Fine Jewelry
- Dana Bronfman
- Delphine Leymarie
- Delphine Tempels
- Emily Chelsea Jewelry
- Estudio Alba
- Gina Melosi
- Johanna Brierley Jewellery Design
- Kathryn the Younger
- Melissa Scoppa Fine Jewelry
- Moribijoux
- Sandrine B. Jewelry
- Saskia Shutt Designs
- Susan Wheeler Design
- TUR Jewellery
- Zangar
These brands collaborate with miners from Peru’s Madre de Dios region, a remote area in the Amazon known for its artisanal mining activities. Key among these partners is Asociación Minera Tauro Fátima (AMATAF), a mining collective that has achieved groundbreaking certifications.
Miners from AMATAF have undergone training in mercury-free mining practices and reforestation initiatives, provided by Pure Earth, a nonprofit dedicated to combating toxic pollutants and fostering sustainable practices. This training led to AMATAF earning the distinction of becoming the first alluvial mining organization in the Amazon to achieve Fairmined certification, Reciprocity Jewels announced.
A Celebration of Ethical Jewelry and Artistic Collaboration
Reciprocity Jewels described the exhibition as a tribute to ethical sourcing, exceptional craftsmanship, and cross-cultural collaboration. They emphasized the growing role of responsible jewelry in blending artistry with social impact.
Adding to the exhibit’s unique appeal, a bio-jewelry collection will also be showcased. This collection is the result of a collaboration involving the Wyss Academy for Nature, Peruvian fashion tech company Neofibers, and two Indigenous communities from the Ese Eja and Yine Peoples in Madre de Dios.
The collection is part of the “Shay: Together for the Ancestral Art” initiative, which aims to bridge Western and ancestral artistic traditions. According to Reciprocity Jewels, the project preserves traditional techniques while promoting the sustainable use of natural fibers, fostering a meaningful exchange of cultural and artistic knowledge.
The exhibition underscores the transformative potential of responsibly sourced jewelry, presenting it as not only a form of art but also a movement for social and environmental progress.