Our Signature Sustainable Shells
Our signature look at Electra has been embodied in the cowrie shell for the past decade. We originally used them as a detail on one piece and became such an inspiration that it is now intrinsic to our collection. The symbol of the ocean, fertility and wealth.
Cowrie shells have a fascinating history throughout numerous cultures and tradition and used as currency in many parts of the world, especially island nations until a few hundred years ago. Once they were the most valuable items in the world, and some species still sell for thousands today.
Cowrie shells being sewn into our designs in Bali, Indonesia
How Sustainable are our shells?
Our Cowrie shells are harvested ethically from the beaches of remote islands throughout the Indonesian Archipelago by sea gypsy tribes. These are communities that live either in villages on the islands or on boats and are nomadic by nature. Trading and fishing are their livelihood and fleets bring in kilos of these shells to Bali.
We directly source from these sea-faring communities so any profit goes directly to them. The shells are cleaned in a non toxic process that does not erode their natural enamel or the piece itself. In homage to their rich tradition as a precious currency, the shells are incorporated into our designs by our artisans by hand.
To ensure that each piece of the shell collection meets international sustainability standards - the shells carry paperwork from the Indonesian Ministry of Fisheries and adhere to CITES, ensuring that no harm was caused to the marine environment and no endangered or rare species of cowrie have been used.
Ethically paid traders and artisans ensure that each shell has directly contributed back into the communities who harvested, traded and created our designs. Helping suport small traditional economics and skill sets.
The ethical and magical aspect of the cowries lies in the people and places they have come from to us and over the past millenia. From the depths of the ocean to the modern metropolis of London is a journey in itself. One that would not be possible without the deep connections formed with communities in Indonesia, using each part of the collection to tell their story.
Using one of the most revered shells in the world brings a piece of the natural island ecosystem into your wardrobe, an essence of the ocean without harm to these natural environments or its inhabitants.
