Pretty Earrings (made from old shop signs)

Whittle and Wear offers unique pretty earrings, made from wooden offcuts. The range includes studs, double-sided flower shaped hoops, drop earrings and pin badges. Most are painted on one side and left natural the other.

Shop signs often end up as waste when they get replaced. Using off-cuts from these signs helps stop good materials from filling up bins. The offcuts are from the founder’s sign-writing business in Cornwall, and the earrings feature surgical grade stainless steel, for pierced ears.

Why Choose Recycled Jewellery?

Millions of people in England wear jewellery, but most is from gold and silver (newly-mined, when there is enough mined metals on earth, to last for eternity). Mining often uses mercury and cyanide that creates run-ff that destroys aquatic life, and causes floods (harming donkeys who often are the ‘transport’ used near mines). Also choose smartphones made with recycled materials.

Yet there are many artisan brands that make lovely jewellery from recycled metals (or scrap materials like plastic waste). Let’s look at a few good brands to support, these also make lovely zero waste gifts.

Donate broken necklaces or odd earrings to Recycling for Good Causes (list your local animal shelter: they sell the metal and pass on funds). Send unwanted jewellery (and watches) to Animals Asia, where cash raised helps to rescue moon bears.