Ethical jeweller Pippa Small collaborates with Monsoon

Celebrity jeweller Pippa Small has designed a beautiful collection that exhibits the natural beauty of precious and semi-precious stones for Monsoon to be launched this spring 2013. Each stunning piece of limited edition jewellery has been handmade by artisans in Kabul, Afghanistan.

There are four pieces and prices range from £22 to £42 for each of the two necklaces a bracelet and a pair of earrings, all of which are modeled by Yasmin Le Bon as part of the 40th Anniversary Monsoon campaign.

Since 1994 Monsoon have worked hard to support local craft-workers and disadvantaged women throughout Asia, and for this particular collection they have worked closely with the jewellers of Turquoise Mountain Arts via Pippa Small, who’s fascination with traditional Afghan design and materials long precedes the collaboration.

Monsoon has commissioned 750 pieces from Turquoise Mountain, and at least £5 from each piece goes towards that foundation. Turquoise Mountain foundation supports the rebuilding of craft communities in Kabul and is backed by Prince Charles! It consists of three contributing parts; it is a school, a restoration project and a commercial enterprise, all based in Kabul, Afghanistan.

This is Small’s first collaboration with Monsoon and it has been drifting through the grapevine for two years now. Both parties strive for that ethnic feel and for fairly produced goods. Small is a popular jeweller in her own right, and with shops all over London, LA, NYC, Japan and Paris, she has had no difficulty in advertising her ‘river-tumbled’ style stones.

The collection for Monsoon is a step towards a new perspective that doesn’t merely see Afghanistan as the home of Taliban and conflict. It signifies an emerging era of women who are allowed to work, to educate themselves and others.

To check out more pieces from Monsoon, follow this link to their online jewellery shop, which now includes Small’s pieces. For more on Pippa’s amazing work with the artisans of Afghanistan go to her personal website.

Elizabeth Finney
Photos: Courtesy of Pippa Small