Ethical making gives new lease of life to unwanted jewellery

Work by HND jewellery students at City of Glasgow College has been on display in an exhibition at Glasgow’s Princes Square.

Part of the worldwide Radical Jewellery Makeover (RJM) project, in conjunction with The Scottish Goldsmith Trust and Ethical Metalsmiths, the exhibition showcased reimagined jewellery pieces.

RJM is a community jewellery mining project that began in the USA, and which the Scottish Goldmiths Trust, together with a number of Scottish colleges, has brought to the UK for the first time.

Lisa McGovern, Curriculum Head of Craft and Design at City of Glasgow College, said:

“Our students created new, environmentally responsible designs from donations of old, unused bits of jewellery. The project formed part of their course work, the alternative materials unit, so it aligned with our curriculum. We signed the Scottish Goldsmiths’ ethical making pledge in 2018, and our students work with recycled eco silver and Fairtrade gold. They’re also set project briefs that highlight ethical issues and sustainability so the RJM project builds on that.”

The RJM Scotland team asked people to ‘mine’ their jewellery boxes for unwanted items to be transformed into fresh, responsible, designer items. Proceeds from the exhibition at Princess Square will fund further efforts to educate and connect people with responsibly sourced materials.

For HND jewellery student, Anne Elizabeth Richardson, taking part in the Radical Jewellery Makeover has been a thought provoking, interesting and challenging experience.

“It’s really made me think about ‘costume’ jewellery, what it’s made out of and how much we all must have just lying around in drawers or boxes. The project pushed us out of our normal jewellery making methods and forced us to think outside the box.

“Normal soldering wasn’t really an option. This, at times, was a tricky and sometimes frustrating process but the outcomes have been very interesting to see. My necklace ‘Shades of Green’ is made up of a bangle, beaded earrings, part of a large link necklace and some chain. I added some copper to help secure everything in place. I’m pleased with my piece and enjoyed seeing it in the exhibition along with all the other items.”

Her classmate, Faith Wylie, added: “At the sorting day for this project I was drawn to a blue, sparkly, wiggly piece that was handmade by someone. It had so much character and I instantly had in my head a picture of the person making it and having a fun time doing so.

“That itself made this project brilliant, I was able to add my wee part to this already fun piece and give it a new lease of life, I feel like I have almost done a collaboration with the person who made it, giving me a nice connection to the brooch.”

Together with Anne Elizabeth and Faith, HND jewellery students Danielle Murray, Eryn Glass, Gary Logue and Linda Mahoney from the College had designs featured in the exhibition.

A total of 70 pieces were selected for the exhibition from the colleges involved which also included Glasgow Kelvin College, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Edinburgh College of Art, Fife College and The Glasgow School of Art. 

Photographs courtesy of Scottish Goldsmiths Trust / Stacey Bentley Photography