Billions of people love wearing jewelry, regardless of religion, ethnicity, and income level. Ornaments are deemed to be assets and parts of sacred and important events in life. However, people focus mostly on aspects like quality, aesthetic appeal, and price while buying jewelry.
There are only a handful of people who think of buying jewelry from brands that contribute to important social causes. The truth is there are a few jewelry brands that focus on humanitarian causes. These brands put in efforts to empower victims of human trafficking (mostly females and children), apart from making esthetic and stylish ornaments.
7 exceptional jewelry brands that want to make the world a better place for victims of human trafficking and exploitation
1. Bracha
Bracha is a jewelry brand that aims to liberate the victims of the sex trade and human trafficking. One-fifth of the profits are given to fund the battle against the sex trade. Sayra and Michelle are two sisters who co-founded the entity in 2012. It was a home-based venture and then grew substantially. Now, the ornaments are sold by top retailers and the brand mostly makes metal jewelry.
2. Starfish Project
The Starfish Project is more than just a venture making ornaments to empower women. It caters to the survivors of human trafficking in Asia. The entity offers shelter to those hapless women and also trains them to become financially and mentally empowered. The sheltered women are taught to craft jewelry and they also receive training in various disciplines like graphic design, photography, accounting, etc.
3. Badala
Set up by Joelle McNamara, Badala is one of those rare jewelry makers that strives to empower victims of human trafficking. She was inspired by the urges and needs of women seeking financial empowerment and freedom. Post its inception, Badala has widened its employment programs to include women residing in Central America and East Africa. It also caters to domestic sex trafficking survivors. Joelle was only 17 years old when she started the venture in Kenya.
4. The Brave Collection
The Brave Collection is a company that makes and sells jewelry that is handcrafted by disabled or underprivileged Cambodian artisans. One-tenth of the profits are donated to fight human trafficking. The venture is the brainchild of Jessica Hendricks Yee, a French woman who was always fascinated by spirituality and indigenous cultures. While teaching English in Cambodia, the plight of the women suffering from trafficking moved her. She decided to utilize her interest in jewelry and humanitarian spirit and started the venture. The artisans are paid good wages, have comfortable facilities, and respect is given to them.
5. Her Future Coalition
This is another jewelry brand determined to make the world a better place for survivors of the sex trade and trafficking. The victims are provided shelter, education, and employment with decent wages. The jewelry is made by the survivors and they learn ways to help others in the same situation. Since 2005, this entity is involved in making the lives of sex trade victims better.
6. UNCVRD
UNCVRD is one of the pioneers in the jewelry sector to lead the fight against human trafficking. It has tied up with Gems Uncovered and 40 percent of the profits are given to the latter. This is utilized in aiding women who are coping with the brutalities of the sex trade. The entity started its journey in 2014 and has grown substantially over the years.
7. Purpose Jewelry
This is a venture that involves young women making jewelry who have been rescued from the nefarious trade of trafficking. It donates the profits to non-profits working for sex trade victims. It has tied up with Mission: International Sanctuary. The rescued women are also given mental support and necessary counseling to lead better lives.
The notable thing about these unique brands is that most of them were set up by women who wanted to end the plight of underprivileged and exploited women. Their contributions have not gone unnoticed by the buyers and their popularity is growing.
