This Canadian Designer on Creating Issa Rae-Approved Jewellery
February 25, 2022 at 07:41PM Can any industry be truly sustainable? Ashley Alexis McFarlane, owner of Canadian jewellery brand Omi Woods, thinks not. Unlike a certain bejewelled House of Gucci character, McFarlane does, however, believe in being ethical. “Living 100 per cent off the land is the only way to be sustainable, and even then humans will have some impact,” she says. “I do believe in being ethical. Both words are thrown around a lot.” Omi Woods’ treasures are created with fair trade African gold sourced from small-scale artisanal mines that use traditional low-impact methods. Its silver is sourced from casting houses that use a blend of recycled and pure silver. “Sustainability is also about relationships. Our staff are paid fairly, our contractors are paid fairly, and our ecosystem supports, nurtures and builds with each other as a result,” McFarlane says. The designer’s…
