Jungle Berry News
We love Fairtrade Fortnight and are celebrating in style by offering you all a 10% discount on any Jungle Berry purchase you make ...
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A bit about us...
Jungle Berry is an ethical business founded in 2004 by Vanessa Hadley
and Nicholas Watson. We specialise in ethical jewellery designed in the
UK and made by artisans and cooperatives in the Amazon rainforest
following fair trade principles. In 2008 we began a successful collaboration with the hugely talented designer Suzanne Campbell, who
has designed the ethical jewellery ranges you see on the website.
We have spent
the past 10 years living and working in Latin America, including
Brazil, Mexico and Cuba. Our life in Latin America has taken us from
the shantytowns of Brazil, where Nicholas worked on gun control
initiatives, to the most prestigious concert halls of Buenos Aires and
Santiago, where Vanessa worked as a concert organiser. Along the way,
we studied at a communist Cuban university, taught English in Mexican
cowboy land, got held up at gunpoint more times than we care to
mention, were hospitalised by dengue fever, and met everyone from
politicians to peasants.
In particular, our experience of life
in this extraordinary but often troubled region opened our eyes to the
enormous difficulties faced by so many skilled craftspeople in
overcoming poverty and reaching a wider market for their talents.
Seeing these difficulties prompted us to wonder 'why?'; then we began
to dream of how things could be and to ask 'why not?'. And so Jungle
Berry was born.
Trade not aid
At Jungle Berry, we
are committed to the production of jewellery that is beautiful, stylish
and original. But we're also convinced our jewellery must have a
minimal environmental impact, and must be genuinely beneficial to the
people who make it - so our customers can wear their Jungle Berry
jewellery with a clear conscience.
Jungle Berry's jewellery designer - Suzanne Campbell
Suzanne's interest in jewellery began as a child when her designs were
in school exercise books and she was making and selling beaded
necklaces instead of doing homework and passing exams. Thankfully
Loughborough College of Art and Design acknowledged her entrepreneurial
streak and successful Foundation and jewellery design degree courses
followed.
Suzanne began her teaching career as artist in
residence in South Hill Park Arts Centre. A couple of years later she
joined the Design Department at Eton College where she taught jewellery
design for eleven years. It was here that she first met Nicholas as a
thirteen year old pupil. During his A-Levels years Nicholas developed
his interest in design, producing unorthodox jewellery and fine Art
prints with Suzanne.
Suzanne says: 'I was delighted when Nicholas and Vanessa
got in touch, asking whether I would consider designing new jewellery
collections for Jungle Berry. My involvement in an ethical fair trade
project has been a fascinating and exciting journey, of which I am very
proud to be a part. Nicholas and Vanessa's enthusiasm and close
involvement with the jewellery design and manufacturing processes makes for a very
happy working relationship."
"Living by the coast I
love beachcombing and find inspiration in nature and in particular the
beautiful sea - weathered glass and pebbles I find on beach walks. My
fascination for magical talismans and amulets is depicted by my
signature symbols of love and friendship depicted in the new Jungle
Berry collections."
And in Brazil...
Yanara Galvao is Jungle Berry's superb representative in Brazil, playing a key role in ensuring fair trade jewellery designs dreamed up in Suffolk are made to the highest quality standards over 5,000 miles away in Manaus.
Yanara handles producer relations, logistics, quality control and communications.
Yanara is also a cultural communications researcher with experience in Brazilian film, literature and visual arts. In addition to her work with Jungle Berry, Yanara also works on a project to promote cinema in low-income areas of Brazil.
Yanara has lived in Rio de Janeiro and London, and currently lives in Caruaru, Brazil.
Yanara (standing in photo) is pictured here working with Regina of the Satere Mawe women's cooperative in Manaus.
