Pangea-Collection.com, fair trade and artisan jewelry from around the world has just added a new feature to the website.
You can now share any page from the website with your friends by clicking on the Share Button at the bottom of each page. Now you can help spread the word about fair trade jewelry, artisan jewelry as well as the stories about the fair trade jewelry artisans just go to website and start sharing!
Pangea Collection just updated the website with the latest in Spring and Summer 2009 fair trade and artisan jewelry trends.
Here is a recap of the trends which you can find on Pangea Collection Style and Pangea Collection Jewelry Trends:
It’s spring fashion trend time. Finally we are starting to see signs of spring and we’re all anticipating eagerly the chance to get out our Havianna’s and spring colors after a long winter.
While at Pangea Collection we watch the trends, we also pick and choose which ones we want to incorporate into our wardrobe. We’re certainly not a slave to fashion trends. Here are some pieces which we love as spring summer trends and we’ll keep for years to come.
It’s All About The Ear - Earring That Is
This season we’re saying more over statement necklace, it all about the ear! Earring that is. While the statement necklace is still in fashion we saw a lot of focus on the ear on spring runways. The earring focus is set of further with the beauty trend of wearing hair swept up and off the face - Perfect for spring and summer.
Spring Summer Earring Fashion Trends
Bangle Mania!
The bangle continues to play a strong role in fashion and has been a great investment. For around $20-25 you can have a great seasonal look. Choose one or stack them up the arm to achieve the runway look.
Spring Summer Bangle Fashion Trend
Layered Necklaces, Piled On!
Necklaces are either statement style, big and chunky or layered/piled on. You can adapt this runway to real way look by choosing a single necklace that is multi strand so it is not so over the top.
Spring Summer Layered Necklace Trend
Weaved Bags Are The IT Bags
In bags, there were weaved bags all over the runway. Pangea Collection selected eco recycled plastic bags rather than leather to get this look. And the bright colors are perfect for a pop of color to any outfit.
Weaved Bag Spring Summer Fashion Trend
Hot Trend For Cool Nights - Scarves
Scarves too are hot this season. A perfect pop of color and a great way to say warm on a cool night.
Thai Silk Scarves Spring Summer Fashion Trend
Eco Jewelry
Eco jewelry is here to stay, look for pieces which are recycled, or produced in an eco friendly way.
Hot and Soft Color Trends
In colors, like often in spring summer there are lots of bright choices, this season blue is especially popular but also pastel colors, black and white and the very popular seasonal trend of blush nude fashion.
Spring Summer Fashion Color Trends
All this doom and gloom has me thinking that it doesn’t have to be so bad. You can buy fair trade and artisan jewelry at very good value. Not only will you pick yourself up with a little bit of retail therapy but you’ll also be helping an artisan support themselves and their family. The gift that gives back!
So I started thinking about a top list of 15 artisan and fair trade jewelry pieces under $20 each including free shipping. I may be a little biased but I think that’s a pretty darn good deal! Better than a piece of chocolate cake - well maybe not better but it won’t end up on my hips!
Here we go top 15 (in no particular order)
1. Sterling Silver Fair Trade Buddha Pendant $19.99
2. Balinese Filigree Dangling Sterling Silver Heart Earrings $19.99
Balinese Sterling Silver Heart Earrings
3. Dangling Tagua Seed Earrings $19.99
Tagua Seed Earrings
4. Fair Trade Glass Earrings - Retangular $19.99
Fair Trade Glass Earrings
5. Fair Trade Glass Earrings - Square $19.99
Fair Trade Glass Earrings
6. Fair Trade Tagua Seed Earrings $19.99
Fair Trae Tagua Seed Earrings
7. Fair Trade Copper Bangle $19.99
Fair Trade Copper Bangle
8. Fair Trade Glass Ring $19.99
Fair Trade Glass Ring
9. Hand Painted Fair Trade Copper Earrings $19.99
Hand Painted Fair Trade Copper Earrings
10. Painted Fair Trade Glass Rings $19.99
Fair Trade Blue Flower Ring
11. Fair Trade Wood Bangle $19.99
Fair Trade Wood Bangle
12. Fair Trade Stretch Ball Wood Bracelets $19.99
Fair Trade Stretch Wood Bead Bracelet
13. Eco Recycled Paper Bead Bracelet $19.99
Eco Recycled Paper Bead Bracelet
14. Colour Vegetable Dye Fair Trade Wood Bangles $19.99
15. Eco Watermelon Seed Necklace $19.99
Eco Watermelon Seed Necklace
Looking for a perfect Valentine’s gift for that someone special? Pangea Collection has a selection of fair trade and artisan jewelry that will be sure to please.
The artisan jewerly pieces in this special Valentine’s day gift guide include handmade Balinese Harmony ball pendants and earrings, handmade sterling silver link bracelet with heart pendant from Mexico, fair trade Indian jewelry in romantic red, sexy chandelier earrings and more.
Whether you are looking for a perfect give or a gift for yourself, you are sure to find a beautiful piece in Pangea Collection’s Valentine’s Gift Guide.
Pangea Collection Valentine's Artisan Jewelry Gift Guide
This holiday season give the ones you love the quintessential gift of harmony with a piece from Pangea Collection’s artisan Harmony Ball Jewelry. Available as a pair of earrings or a pendant, each sterling silver, handcrafted Harmony Ball chimes softly when shaken, evoking memories of sleigh bells and holidays past. Made by the skilled silversmiths of Celuk, Bali, each ethereal piece is unique and tells a story in its design and song!
Artisan Crafted Harmony Ball Pendants and Earrings
Pangea Collection artisan jewelry and fair trade jewelry was used to style models for the Rush Couture Spring/Summer 2009 show on Wednesday, October 15th in Montreal.
Pangea Collection’s fair trade bangles from India were used on the models. Check out the beautiful designs by Claudet Floyd and how the Pangea Collection bangles give a pop of color perfect for any season!
These wood bangle jewelry pieces are handmade by a fair trade organisation in India and are brightly colored using vegetable dye.
October is well known as breast cancer awareness month, it is lesser known as Fair Trade month. Fair Trade can be supported by purchasing goods which are designated fair trade products and/or produced by fair trade organisations.
Another way to support fair trade is to increase awareness by reading about fair trade and fair trade producers. In a previous article the Karen Tribe was highlighted as one such group of fair trade jewelry producers. In this article, another fair trade jewelry artisan group, the Mien will be featured.
The lu Mien are heavily influenced by Chinese culture and are believed to have originated from southern China. At least a million Mien are still living in China and there are also settlements found in Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. In Thailand the Mien are mostly residing to the north of Chiang Rai or Phavao province.
The lu Mien arrived in Thailand from Laos in during the latter half of the 19th century. There are no sub-tribal groupings within the Mien population, so there is little difference in the customary dress and appearance of the group. A woman’s outfit would include a black turban and a red ruff which has the appearance of a boa even though it is sewn into the front part of the tunic’s collar. The woman’s pants are heavily embroidered and are worn underneath a black or dark blue colored tunic that extends to the ankle. The outfit is tied with a wide sash. Women and children also wear silver neck rings with chains of silver ornaments attached that extend down their back.
For the Mien handmade silver jewelry is more than an adornment, it is also a statement of status and wealth. The silver jewelry worn by a young Mien woman helps a suitor to decide on a prospective bride.
Skilled silversmiths handcraft silver into intricate chains and petite flowers creating exquisite pieces of handmade silver jewelry that a Mien bride will wear in a heavy cascade down her back.
Handmade Silver Necklace - Mien
Many fair trade jewelry etailers support the Mien jewelry artisans and in doing so help maintain the high craft skills of a justly product ethnic culture while also enabling them to earn an income to support their families.
Consider supporting fair trade artisans when you purchase products especially during fair trade month.
In our effort to support Fair Trade month, I am including some posts during the month of October on a few of the Fair Trade Jewelry artisans who create the beautiful pieces of artisan jewelry found in the pages of Pangea Collection’s website.
Today is a post on the Karen Tribe. Pangea Collection purchases pieces of artisan jewelry from members of the Karen Tribe via a fair trade organisation in Thailand where members of this tribe live.
The Karen Tribe in Thailand are in the northern Lamphun Province and they draw on their ethnic tribal background for their traditional skills and artistry working with silver.
Karen women adorn themselves with handmade silver jewelry for occasions such as New Year festivities - when they know they will be visited by young men from neighbouring villages. The handmade silver jewelry that they display denotes wealth, and in some communities the young men craft artifacts from silver to be worn by their future brides on their wedding day.
Today the majority of men do not actively practice the craft of artisan jewelry making, however women have become silver jewelry artisans in order to generate income.
There is a sophisticated simplicity in the craft designs of the Karen. The ethnic motifs and matte finish of their traditional handmade silver jewelry reflect their affinity with nature as featured in the appealing jewelry skilfully adapted for contemporary lifestyle.
Pangea-Collection.com features a collection of Karen handmade silver jewelry which reflects the highest quality craftsmanship, intricately assembled and finished. Please consider supporting Fair Trade Month and one way you can do that is by treating yourself to a beautiful piece of fair trade jewelry from Thailand.
Karen Artisan Fair Trade Silver Necklace
Pangea Collection fair trade jewelry is celebrating Fair Trade Month starting October 1, 2008 until October 31, 2008, although we think fair trade should be celebrated every day. We are celebrating by donating
$1 from any Fair Trade Jewelry order (prices start at just $19.99 and include free shipping to the continental United States and Canada) to Opportunity International.
Opportunity International is one of the world’s largest micro financing organizations. We are very proud to support Opportunity International in their ongoing efforts.
To participate in the fair trade month celebration please add “Fair Trade Jewelry” to the special instructions during checkout.
For those who are not familiar with fair trade or would like to learn more, below is a brief explanation about the principles of fair trade.
Fair Trade is a trading partnership that seeks equity in international trade. It is intended to contribute sustainable development by providing better trading conditions as well as ensuring the rights of marginalized workers, especially in those in developing countries.
Fair Trade organizations make an effort to generate awareness in order to promote change in the rules and practice of conventional international trade. Fair Trade’s key objectives are to:
- Work with marginalized producers and workers to aid them in achieving self reliance
- Empower producers and workers as stakeholders in their own organizations
- Actively participate in the global marketplace to assist in achieving greater equity in international trade
Wherever possible Pangea Collection is committed to working with Fair Trade organizations and small independent artisans around the world. This business philosophy guides the Pangea Collection buying practices and jewelry artisan selection.
Pangea Collection’s goal is to do our part in enabling jewelry artisans, particularly women and those living in developing markets, to earn an income through the practice of their craft. In our own small way Pangea Collection is working towards supporting the livelihoods of these skilled artisans. In many cases their crafts are the living expression of deep cultural traditions and Pangea Collection, along with the Fair Trade organizations with which we work, believe in the importance of the preservation of these cultures. We also believe that interpretation and the evolution of such crafts are important for their long-term sustainability.
Kenyan Fair Trade Tribal Necklace
Surin Fair Trade Bracelet
Please support fair trade month and consider a piece of fair trade jewelry from one of the following:
Fair Trade Jewelry Collections:
Chilean Fair Trade Jewelry
Ecuadorian Fair Trade Jewelry
Indian Fair Trade Jewelry
Kenyan Fair Trade Jewelry
Thailand Fair Trade Jewelry
Nepalese Fair Trade Jewelry
Ugandan Women’s Cooperative Jewelry
Pangea Collection - artisan jewelry has just received a new collection of Handmade Silver Jewelry pieces from Mexico.
Taxco, Mexican jewelry is very popular for the 925 jewelry and artisan jewelry pieces that reflect the long history of silver mining and later silver smithing in Taxco, Mexico.
These new handcrafted silver jewelry pieces not only reflect the artisan jewelry style of Mexican jewelry but also the latest trend toward large earrings and chandelier earrings. There are also two other pieces in the new collection which are silver bangles and a silver choker.
Take a look at the new pieces in the Mexican Jewelry Collection.
Silver Bangle Bracelet - Mexican Jewelry
Silver Choker Necklace
Silver Hoop Earrings - Mexican Jewelry
Silver Hammered Disc Earrings - Mexican Collection
Hope you like the new collection.