UPDATE:  During October you can receive a 20% discount off your entire online order by signing up for TAC newsletter on their retail website!

Until recently, there were only two choices in fashion jewelry:  sophisticated pieces made in a factory and sold in high-end boutiques and department stores; and “hippie” jewelry that was made from natural materials but which simply didn’t pair with current fashion trends.  The Andean Collection has come to our rescue.

Founded in 2008 by Amanda Judge, the company is part of a new wave of conscious businesses that are closing the loop and creating sustainable industries one step at a time.  Judge holds an M.A. in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University where she studied development economics and poverty reduction strategies. While doing field research in Ecuador, she met up with artisans working with traditional materials and methods to create beautiful jewelry.  Her previous work consulting for microfinance projects in Peru and Ecuador led her to found a company that is both ethical and profitable.

The jewelry is made with sustainably harvested materials found in the rainforest:  tagua, acai, coconut and other seeds and fibers. You can learn more about how the beads are created on the company’s website.

Other ethical practices include:

• Using recycled packaging
• Ensuring everyone in the supply chain is compensated with fair wage and safe working conditions
• Using existing guidelines and voluntarily reporting on the company’s environmental impact

I have one of these necklaces (the Acai Necklace) and am thoroughly impressed by the quality of the workmanship and the vivid color of the beads.  It is a perfect statement necklace for the fall season.  And each time I wear it, I’ll be reminded of how our world is changing for the better–thanks to companies like the Andean Collection that are putting people first.

Be sure to keep up with The Andean Collection on their blog.

More photos of this gorgeous jewelry: