Unravelling Bio Jewellery: From Origin to its Contemporary Form
Seeds, spices, seashells and much more; nature’s treasures are now being translated into bespoke pieces for your jewellery box. These are playful, quirky, rooted in cultural ideas, eco-conscious and everything good in between.
Jewellery made out of flowers is a long-standing tradition in India- Going as far back as the times of the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, one example being Gajra, the classic hair accessory, popularly made out of white jasmine flowers. It has also been mentioned in plays like Kalidasa’s Shakuntala. The eponymous lead dons cotton clothes and jewellery made out of flowers, (which she never plucked). In contemporary India, flower jewellery has found its place in wedding rituals like haldi and mehendi, where brides don delicate flower jewellery to go well with their relatively uncomplicated clothes during these events. In this decade of conscious and fashion-forward accessories, bio jewellery has found an all-new place and meaning. From seeds to spices, this jewellery is made out of a mind-blowing set of ingredients, (literally). The best part, it is no longer restricted to traditional events, it can be worn every day and give a marvellous touch to a quirky yet classic wardrobe.
Image Source: Tangerine
If you are a sustainable jewellery enthusiast, or maybe someone who likes to keep tabs on
everything ‘new and interesting’ you must have come across the term ‘Bio Jewellery.’ A popular Indian brand in this sphere is Tangerine. From influencers to celebrities, no one seems to get enough of the never seen before designs.
Because who thought spices and seashells could be turned into everyday fine jewellery? Each piece of Tangerine’s bio jewellery has a natural element that is plated with gold. These jewels are made from 100% recycled materials with the idea to ‘make beautiful jewellery out of something that would eventually be discarded,’- an idea that has prompted the inception of bio jewellery across the globe. In their own words, the brand is a love child of their two favourites: design innovation and sustainability. The brand sources its materials from all over the country and beyond adding a touch of the local flavour to its designs. The brand’s most popular collection is the Spice Collection. From star anise to cardamom a variety of spices feature in jewellery ranging from bracelets to earrings. The collection is a celebration of the ingredients that have been an essential part of Indian kitchens through generations.
Image Source: Tangerine
Bio Jewellery is a great way to wear charms with spiritual and religious significance while also keeping your look relevant to contemporary couture. Tangerine’s Bora Flower earrings from its Tresor collection are crafted from flowers of the same name found in the southern regions of India. It’s an anti-oxidant and anti-anaemic agent that is known to bring love and good luck. Hence, forming a statement piece that looks enchanting and also has a cultural and spiritual meaning attached to it.
Image Source: Tangerine
Each element from a seashell to a seed has a story to tell, and each curation of natural elements can take an onlooker on a journey through the region’s practices while also appealing to the eco-conscious values of the modern consumer. From the sea to the forests, and the mountains, each natural landscape has a story to tell, and it takes strong research and creativity to contain it within a single element. However, bio jewellery’s role is not just restricted to conscious style statements that highlight and immortalise elements from across the world. This eco-friendly and innovative form of jewellery has become a turning point for the women in the Jamui district of Bihar.
More than a decade ago Sangeeta Devi’s family was struggling with financial difficulties.
A resident of the Khaira block in Jamui district, Sangeeta Devi started a business of eco-friendly jewellery made from seeds combined with artwork to help with running her household. These adornments are created with seeds collected from forests, no plants are harmed to collect them. These make for beautiful bijoux and once you get bored of the same you can plant them, reducing the waste disposal problem of costume jewellery, while also giving you something trendy to wear.
Image Source: Times Of India
The inception of Sangeeta Devi’s business was not without challenges. Her business crafts jewellery as low as 20 Rs. to 1000 Rs, and was initially mocked by the villagers as they believed it was not a viable enough business. However, Sangeeta Devi has not only managed to create a living for herself but has also generated employment for fifteen other women in the village. This bio jewellery’s success also has to do with the political and geological climate of the area. Hugely impacted by Maoists, the people of the area prefer seed jewellery because this jewellery does not have any valuable materials and it does not interest the Maoists, hence reducing the risk of snatching. It looks artistic and gorgeous; giving women in the high-risk area a chance to wear stunning jewels.
Image Source: Times Of India
Sangeeta Devi has conducted an exhibition of her jewels across 15 states and her efforts have been recognised by companies like Google, Coca Cola and Rolls Royce. As Sangeeta Devi told TOI, “Such jewels have plenty of customers in town. Not only do they like the artwork, but they also appreciate the initiative taken to protect the environment…This has also boosted our income.”
This goes to show that consumers across India appreciate innovative solutions to safeguard ecological interests, especially when they can wear the ideology they support in the form of everyday stylish jewellery.
Bio jewellery is an ode to concern for the environment, innovation, our traditional elements, and most importantly to style that encompasses both a stunning look and self-expression.
