Everyone should buy a piece of jewelry every now and again. Next time you feel like adding a new sparkly piece of bling to your jewelry box, search for upcycled jewelry pieces first. To help you start your search, we’ve rounded up a few jewelry shops that specialize in making upcycled jewelry, taking the planet into consideration as well as style.

1. RomantiquarianDesign, an Etsy shop

While this shop sells quite a few different pieces, I was drawn to this upcycled Scrabble necklace. It features a vintage, wooden Scrabble piece that’s adorned with brass trinkets and chain. This item is priced at $24.50 and handmade.

2. Pearlreef, an Etsy Shop

Alas, most women can’t grow luscious facial hair. But if you purchase this pair of mustache earrings, you can easily display your love for dapper facial hair on your ears. These earrings are made from recycled bike tires and are priced at $8.

3. 31 Bits

31 Bits goal is to “empower people through the fashion industry.” The company’s jewelry is made from recycled paper fashioned into the shape of beads. Each piece is incredibly unique. Women in Uganda make the jewelry and earn an income that allows them to support their families.

The piece I’ve featured here is perfect for festival season. It’s called The Free Spirit and goes for $36.

4. Upcycledjewelry, an Etsy Shop

These earrings are perfect for the tech-loving gal. This piece is handmade and prominently features its main material: an upcycled circuit board. This piece is priced at $20.

Do you own any pieces of upcycled jewelry? If so, share what shop you snagged your pieces from in the comment section. We’d love to hear about other Earth-friendly businesses.

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Image: 31 Bits Facebook page

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Jewelry designer, Susan Domelsmith of Dirty Librarian Chains crafts handmade jewelry and elegant accessories out of second market materials from past jewelry factories on the eastern seaboard. Materials dating back to as early as the sixties have found new ways to shine through in Susan’s collections. EcoSalon caught up with Susan to discover more about her craft, upcycling process and made in NYC appeal.

Juliette Donatelli: Your line is produced in New York City?

Susan Domelsmith: Yes, by me.

JD: Do you do all the labor yourself?

SD: Yeah pretty much. I have a few assistants that come in and I teach them as well. It’s like continuing the manufacturing process and trying to keep it here.

But I also work with materials that were primarily made in the United States. I shop at factories that have shut down in Providence Rhode Island, and components from the sixties to the eighties. Second market

JD: Are all of those factories closed down now?

SD: A lot of the production has moved overseas since primarily the mass market stuff is made in China now. But I feel like there is a resurgence where people are starting to care more where their products are made and who makes them. So I feel like there are some new ones that are opening back up.

JD: When bring your handmade jewelry to a buyer or the larger public, and they find out it is made in NYC, is that an appeal to them?

SD: Yes definitely. I do a lot of markets where I am selling straight to the customer and they definitely love meeting the maker and knowing there is a nice person who made the jewelry, infusing it with good energy, rather than someone being forced into this kind of way to make a living. Which you know, some people still have to do in other parts of the world.

If they can identify with the way of life of the maker then I think that’s nice for the customer.

JD: Are more jewelers using reclaimed materials?

SD: Yes. When I first started — I’ve had my line for almost ten years — so when I first started I saw that was not really something people were doing. But it has definitely become more of a common way of designing and producing jewelry. I am really happy a lot more people are taking the more environmentally conscious route, because then it takes all the chemicals that are involved in plating and the mining of the materials as well — it takes that out of the equation, and it is still nice things that are beautiful to wear. So I am happy that that’s becoming more of a movement.

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images from the brand

The post Second Market Sophistication: Handmade Jewelry by Susan Domelsmith of Dirty Librarian Chains appeared first on EcoSalon.

Julia Vasic’s new line of upcycled accessories takes all the virtues of the beloved basic tee turning it into the perfect summer accessory.

How do you top a tee when it comes to easy, breezy summer style? When San Francisco-based designer Julia Vasic, was presented with dozens of t-shirts leftover from the 2008 Obama campaign, she knew she could put them to good use.

The resulting fourteen-piece line of necklaces and bracelets Vasic recently launched, show off all the virtues of the beloved basic tee turned into the perfect summer accessory. “I love the soft feel of jersey, most of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe are soft fluid jersey pieces,” said Vasic. “Draped over a plain white t-shirt or tank top, the pieces add a great element of texture.”

“Melissa” in pink knotted with recycled gold plated tubes.

Vasic’s twisted and knotted strands are crafted in various lengths and combinations of black, white and pastel upcycled shirts to suit breezy layered styles. Their delicate modern style is punctuated with sleek gold plates and chains.

“Melissa” necklace in black, “Sunny” necklace in white with an organic hemp binding and “Joanna,” a single-knotted strand in peach with recycled double gold chain.

If you want something more customized, Vasic can take your favorite tee and turn it into a statement piece. Available at juliavasic.com, $40-$80. 10% of proceeds will be donated to Endangered Species Coalition.

The post Tee For Two: Julia Vasic Recycled Jewelry appeared first on EcoSalon.

Look beyond traditional jeans and make things more interesting by finding new ways to wear this beloved fabric.

If you ask anyone, male or female, what their favorite outfit is, there’s a good chance it includes denim. This fabric, originally designed for cowboys in the late 1800s has become a closet staple like no other. Besides jeans, there are lots of great items out there made from denim — like these bleach-splattered shoes, a sweet dress, bodega bag and pendant. Complement your blues with an updated version of the perfect trench coat, and a cool upcycled necklace.

Bleach Splatter Denim Women’s Cordones
If plain denim is just too boring for you, check out these Bleach Splatter Cordones, that work just as well with or without laces. For every pair sold, TOMS donates one to a child in need.
$69, Toms

Jesse Spanos Flare Jeans by Pray For Mother Nature
These super soft flare jeans by Pray For Mother Nature are the perfect medium-blue shade of denim. The Pray for Mother Nature collection is entirely designed and made in California by Chip Foster, formerly of Chip & Pepper (whose jeans were coveted for making your bum look amazing). A percentage of proceeds benefits Heal the Bay.
on sale for $59.95, Future standard

Pray For Mother Nature Cuts Like a Knife Ruffle Dress
If jeans, or pants, are simply not your thing, you can still be a Blue Jean Baby by trying out a denim dress. This scoop-neck one – also by Pray for Mother Nature, features tiers at the front, worn edges, and a pulled bottom hem.
on sale for $108, Shopbop

Study NY Pipe Necklace
Made in NYC by designer Tara St. James, this gorgeous necklace is crafted using reclaimed copper pipes and vintage silk. It’s the perfect way to add some interest to a simple jeans-and-T-shirt ensemble.
$180, Juno & Jove & Study NY

Remade USA Bodega Bag
Did you ever wonder what happened to all those tie-bleached jeans from the 80s? Well, some of them have been remade into cute bodega bags by designer Shannon South. Every bag is unique and completely made from upcycled denim.
$55, ReMade USA

Jen Abrams Vintage Denim Pendant
Jen Abrams creates simple, statement-making jewelry that is very much designed to go with your favorite pair of jeans. Maybe because it’s made using pre-loved denim. $96-$136, Jen Abrams Collection

Edun Trench Coat
The classic trench gets an update by Edun designer Sharon Wauchob. The frayed edges and powerfully simple details make this the perfect trench to wear with any kind of denim.
$398, Edun

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