OUR APPROACH
Responsible Sourcing
OUR MATERIALS
Thoughtful choices, honestly made
We know sustainability in jewellery is complex, and we’re wary of broad claims that can make the industry sound simpler than it really is. Our approach is to be clear about the materials we use, the suppliers we work with and the choices we can genuinely verify.
Our sterling silver chains, beads and clasps are made using certified eco silver, containing 95% recycled silver and 5% ethically sourced silver. We also choose materials for quality and longevity: our 18ct gold-plated sterling silver jewellery uses a heavier gold plating than standard flash plating, which we have tested ourselves to make sure it gives the level of wear we expect from Nellou jewellery.
OUR GEMSTONES
Chosen with care
Gemstones are at the heart of Nellou, and we take an active role in sourcing them.
We source our gemstone beads through suppliers we know and trust, selecting them for colour, character and quality. For our set gemstone jewellery, we work closely with a small specialist workshop in Jaipur, where the stones are selected and set for us by hand.
Natural gemstones will always vary slightly, and that individuality is part of what we love about working with them.
OUR PARTNERS
Knowing who we work with
The majority of our jewellery is made by established manufacturers certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council, alongside a smaller number of artisan workshops whose skills and specialist knowledge are an important part of what we create.
We make and finish what we can in-house in Yorkshire, and have built long-standing, personal relationships with the suppliers and workshops we work with. We regularly meet our suppliers and have visited almost all of the businesses we work with ourselves, giving us a much closer understanding of how our jewellery is made, the conditions it is produced in and the people behind each stage of the process.
For us, responsible sourcing is about knowing our supply chain as well as we can, choosing carefully and being open about the decisions we make.