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30 Essential Vancouver Jewellery Designers: Jessica Reiss of ecocessories

30 Essential Vancouver Jewellery Designers: Jessica Reiss of ecocessories

Jessica Reiss is a Vancouver-based eco-jewellery designer who is inspired by West Coast organic living and sustainable style. ecocessories jewellery is made using recycled beads and sterling silver. Jessica does all the silversmithing of hand forged silver clasps and components in her Gastown studio. Jessica also runs a jewellery recycling service to recycle your old, broken, or unwanted jewellery. Two VancouverMom.ca readers nominated Jessica. Meaghan of Ilus Elu said, “I was thrilled to have a donation at the David Suzuki Foundation with Ecocessories, and she does gorgeous work.”

 

Why did you get into jewellery design?

In 2007, after graduating from business school in Ontario, I moved out to British Columbia to start my career and my life. I have always been artistic, but followed some sound advice to achieve my business degree first, which could be the foundation for my artistic passions. I have always been entrepreneurial, and jewellery design had interested me, but the idea for my business, ecocessories, and the realization that I wanted to be a jewellery designer hit me all at once. I wanted the business I launched to be green, and to foster my creativity. It dawned on me that almost every woman in the world has worn some piece of jewellery, and that the potential to use recycled jewelry as my materials was limitless.

I then went home, disassembled every piece of jewellery I owned at the time, cleaned and sorted the beads by colour and began sketching my own designs. ecocessories was born! I reserved ecocessories.ca, enrolled in local silversmithing courses, wrote a business plan and have been living my passions through eco-jewelry design ever since.

 

Tell us a bit about your company.

ecocessories is a company that recycles your old, broken, or unwanted jewellery. The beads and vintage components are then used as inspiration for my new sterling silver designs.

My designs are all one-of-a-kind, and made from high quality sterling silver – I do all of the silversmithing in my studio nestled in Gastown, Vancouver, BC. Necklaces are often asymmetrical in style, and coloured beads are chosen to suit the season and current fashion trends. Bracelets feature my hand forged signature handmade clasps, that are adjustable for your wrist size too. My earrings are my best seller, with a style to suit each woman. Handmade earring wires are formed from sterling silver, and safe for even sensitive ears.

 

How would you characterize your style?

In the words of my customers, my style has been described as beautiful, unique, simple, stylish, timeless, modern, individual, high quality, eco-friendly, and socially conscious. I try to offer a range of different styles to suit many women, and am always open to discussing your custom design project, especially if you have jewellery of sentimental value that you want re-styled with sterling silver.

Who are your clients?

My clients are women who want to feel beautiful. I often note how customers are drawn to pieces that attract them because of personal style, and when they find out that piece has recycled components too, that is the icing on the cake. Women who wear ecocessories jewellery feel beautiful because it brings out a personal best in terms of outward style and internal beauty too because you look good in an “I helped the environment” sorta way!

 

What do you think moms should know about your jewelry?

Moms often have little ones with curious fingers, which counts dangly jewellery out. You should know that ecocessories offers my “Everyday Earrings” in many different colours, and this style is great because it securely closes, is small and comfortable to wear, and is stylish looking too.

I also think moms should consider using my jewellery recycling service once their daughters grow out of playing with mom’s old jewellery or have out grown costume jewellery of their own. Chances are I will find inspiration in your old, unwanted, or broken jewellery!

Where can people buy your jewelry?

ecocessories jewelry is available across Canada from the online store, and sold locally at Two Of Hearts on Main St., Fine Finds in Yaletown and Poppy Hair in Kitsilano. I am planning to distribute my line at retailers nationally in 2010, so please check the website for the most up to date list of stores where ecocessories is sold.

Anything else to add?

Thank you for taking the time to learn about ecocessories jewellery. I put a ton of care and attention into my designs, which are 100% guaranteed for life. I look forward to seeing ecocessories jewellery modeled on you!

ecocessories

www.ecocessories.ca | Twitter: @ecocessories | Facebook

View Comment (1)
  • Hi there, beautiful work and lovely concept green vintage wear with the clean modern spin. can you reccomend any local silversmithing courses, or where you when I am looking for maybe a one on one experience, I live in whistler thanks

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