Perspective From The Steering Committee
Guidance and knowledge sharing is at the heart of everything The Jewellery Collective aims to achieve. This is why a steering committee - group of industry professionals aiding in our growth and promotion of our aims - is key to the work we do. Our steering committee members are volunteers with each member finding different meaning in their work with the group. We spoke to some of them to better understand why they got involved.
Award-winning jewellery designer, maker and content marketer, Rebecca Maddock, is driven by community building. "When I moved to London from Dublin I knew almost no one in the UK jewellery industry. I feel this stymied my career progression in those initial years. In an industry which thrives on personal connections, being on the outside is daunting." The Jewellery Collective believes inclusivity and welcoming people in is key to the future of the industry. Rebecca, founder of &Worn Studio, went on to say, "I wish I had this opportunity back then to get together with other makers to support one another and build those integral business relationships with suppliers and manufacturers. I want to do anything I can to ensure future makers have the opportunities I did not". Ethical Gemstone specialist and founder of Nineteen48, Stuart Pool, believes in demystifying this often opaque industry. "The Jewellery Collective serves an essential purpose by opening those doors, especially for people who are starting their journey in our amazing industry."
Consultant Abi Curran acknowledges, "Building a business in the jewellery industry can be really difficult," and describes The Jewellery Collective as an "organisation that is committed to driving positive change". We believe positive change comes from building connections and confidence. Confidence comes from a place of knowledge and experience. For Nadia Abbas, co-founder and Jewellery Technologist at Stööki, education and knowledge sharing are key components of the work The Jewellery Collective does. She commented "working as an independent jeweller can be scary especially when a new problem occurs and you have no idea who to ask". Nadia believes the main value in being part of this group is that it "provides a safe space for jewellers at any level in their career who are then able to grow together as a community."
Similarly, mentoring is a large part of the work of The Jewellery Collective, be it peer mentoring or time with experts. "It's something that people in all different points in their jewellery career can benefit from and learn from" says Georgina Yvonne, Founder of her eponymous jewellery brand, "it can be quite daunting at first to establish connections or know which suppliers to reach out to. It takes a lot of confidence to approach members of the trade". Mentoring can be a powerful tool to break down barriers, provide clarity and confidence to anyone, no matter where they are on their business journey.
When asked why they wanted to be involved with the collective, Caroline wishes the "journey of this collective will hopefully serve as an inspiration to others who have considered stepping into this incredible industry" and Stella Ajao, Creative Designer & Activist wants to lead so others can confidently follow, wanting to "make an impact and difference we must be the change we want to see".
These are only a selection of views from some of the steering group. A diverse and energetic approach is needed to propel the mission of The Jewellery Collective forward. This is what they bring to the table, meet the committee and find out more about them. If you would like to get involved get in touch now or find out more about what is needed here.
