Vote for my Pleiades Collection in the Fairmined 100 Challenge!

Jewelry Making
Written By Michelle Pajak-Reynolds
fairmined gold ethically sourced sapphire pendant necklace

Michelle Pajak-Reynolds Pleiades Collection Electra pendant featuring 14k Fairmined gold, 2.45 carat ethically mined Moyo Gems raw blue sapphire, and champange zircons. Photo credit: Julie Stanley/JuleImages

Dear friends,

Being consistent with the work I have been doing since I joined the Fairmined initiative in 2018, this year I decided to participate in the first edition of the Fairmined 100 Challenge with my Pleiades collection. 

Creating jewelry that celebrates the earth's beauty is a key principle of my creative process. Celebrating beauty goes beyond gems and precious metals; it's honoring the people who mine the raw materials I transform into wearable works of art. Ethically sourced gems and gold offer a traceable and transparent supply chain that honors both people and planet.  By choosing ethically made jewelry, you are choosing designs that are as beautiful as they are responsible.

The Fairmined 100 Challenge is a global design competition featuring 127 brand new jewelry collections to show the world that it is possible to make jewelry in an ethical and responsible way, and at the same time help artisanal and small-scale mining communities. 

The industry judges are deciding their favorites and today is your chance to support my Pleiades collection in the "Public's Favorite" category, this is the only category in which the winner is chosen by you, the public. At this link you can find my Pleiades collection and register your vote. 

Voting is open until October 7,2022 so please share the voting link with your friends, family, and people who are interested in sustainability and ethical sourcing. 


Thank you,
Michelle

Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

Michelle Pajak-Reynolds began designing jewelry at 5 years old after being inspired by the power bracelets and tiara worn by actress Lynda Carter in the Wonder Woman television series. And her history with jewelry goes back even further as her parents met and fell in love across a jewelry case; Michelle's mom was a jewelry department manager and her dad was a police officer.

As a young child, Michelle used her babysitting money to teach herself basic beading and wire-wrapping techniques with supplies from her local craft supply store. Her formal jewelry and metalsmithing training began in a high-school jewelry class and she went on to perfect her artistic and business skills via a BFA in Jewelry from Kent State University and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Baldwin-Wallace University.

Michelle founded her eponymous jewelry company in 2001 and specializes in small collections of one-of-a-kind designs. Handcrafted in gemstones, pearls and ethically sourced precious metals in her Ohio studio, Michelle’s creations are elegant and ethereal art to wear that stirs the soul. In addition to designing her signature collections, Michelle works one-on-one with collectors to create breathtaking custom designs.

michellepajakreynolds.com
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