The Story of Tagua in The Journey to Truly Sustainable Jewellery

 

The uniqueness and originality of Pretty Pink Eco-Jewellery originates from the tagua fruit, which is also widely known as Vegetable Ivory, due to its almost identical composition, hardness and colour to animal ivory.

The exotic fruit from the tropical forests is one of the most beautiful samples of South American nature.

It takes several months for the tagua to become the ‘jewel’ that we know and love. These large tropical fruits grow on palm trees in large clumps and fall off the tree when ripe.

Inside each of them we find several nuts of different sizes, which are full of sweet liquid flesh. These are dried for around three months before they can be processed. Once dry the kernels harden to stone.

The tagua fruit is harvested from the forest floor by the indigenous inhabitants, respecting and unharming mother nature. The entire process is both sustainable and ethical.

When the kernels become stones, the tagua is hand cut and processed into the required shapes and colours using ethical and sustainable fabric dyes.

Each of Pretty Pink’s  eco-jewellery pieces are unique, thanks to this beautiful, natural material, each handcrafted piece of jewellery can vary in size, shape and colour.

Jewellery that Helps!

Thanks to tagua’s organic nature, we proudly help both people and nature.

How Tagua is Sustainable and The Eco Practices we Promote

• WE DON’T HURT TREES

The tagua fruit naturally falls to the ground when ripe. We take only as much material from nature as it offers us.

• WE PREVENT THE FELLING OF FORESTS

The indigenous inhabitants of the Amazon rainforest originally made their living by felling the forest on arable land. When Tagua became their source of living, they began to protect their nature again.

• WE ARE FAIR TRADE

Fair trade provides a fair income for the indigenous people involved in the production of Pretty Pink Eco-Jewellery.

• WE SUPPORT THE LOCALS

We provide job opportunities for specific Colombian families. Tagua was used in the past to make buttons, after World War ll, plastic materials were imported from China displacing the natural materials. Thanks to Pretty Pink Eco-Jewellery and other similar business, locals can now re-engage in their craft. 

Caring for Your Tagua Jewellery

A little mindful care helps preserve the natural beauty of your tagua jewellery.

Keep it dry. Remove your jewellery before swimming, showering or bathing, and never soak it. Prolonged moisture can warp or crack the tagua seed. If it gets wet, gently pat it dry with a soft cloth and allow it to air-dry away from direct heat.

Store thoughtfully. Keep your jewellery in a dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat, in a soft pouch or jewellery box.

Clean gently. Wipe with a soft, dry cloth rather than washing or soaking. Avoid chemical cleaners and direct contact with perfume or hairspray; apply these before putting on your jewellery.

Handle with care. Protect your piece from knocks and drops onto hard surfaces.

Where Can You Buy Tagua in The UK?

Pretty Pink Jewellery is a leader in Scotland and across the UK. We have refined both our South American connections with the raw tagua product as well as honed our craft of designing with and perfecting the use of tagua in fine jewellery.