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There’s nothing quite like an eye-catching piece of jewellery to dress up an outfit. And these 15 necklaces—from brands doing better for people, the planet, and animals—are our editors’ current favourites.
A conscious outfit complement
Humans have been adorning themselves in shiny objects since the Stone Age, and our love of decorating ourselves has never waned.
Necklaces were one of the first types of jewellery invented. While they’ve gone through various iterations over the centuries, from shells to crosses to precious stones, contemporary styles vary widely to suit every taste or tribute. But much of the jewellery we consume today has fallen into the sticky clutches of fast fashion, often made from unethically sourced, poor-quality metals and plastic.
But, of course, simply because something’s beautiful doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Sustainability and ethics in jewellery supply chains are complicated, but there are brands that are doing more on these issues. Many of them are small and independent, meaning you’ll often find more one-of-a-kind styles, too.
What to look out for when shopping for more sustainable jewellery? More sustainable necklaces might incorporate lower-impact materials like Fairmined Ecological gold, lab-grown or conflict-free diamonds, upcycled rubber, or recycled metals. And while we recommend using what you have before buying new (which includes prolonging the life of any cheap, trendy pieces you’ve collected that are looking a bit worse for wear), if you’re on the market for a new necklace, the following brands are doing it right.
