After a five-year hiatus, Sara Patino of Sara Patino Jewelry has returned to her Chesterfield studio to work on a new collection of “responsible” jewelry. The 30 new ring, necklace, and earring designs—available in both 14-karat gold and gold fill—are available now.
Responsible jewelry, Patino says, is “about making responsible choices to avoid harming people and the environment.” She makes everything in her line by hand, using ethically sourced gemstones and recycled gold that’s locally manufactured.
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Her interest in the responsible jewelry movement came about during this hiatus, as she visited overseas factories while designing for now-closed boutique Geranium. Conditions at these factories were acceptable, she says, but employees often couldn’t tell her where gemstones and other raw materials came from and how they were acquired or produced.
“I can understand why that happens. It goes through many hands, but maybe it’s time to start asking,” she says.
As she did more research on the industry, she discovered that many of the practices used in creating the raw materials for jewelry can be harmful. Gold, for instance, is often manufactured using mercury, and compressor mining and other unsafe practices put people’s health at risk.
“As I come in contact with vendors, I ask them: ‘What are their practices? What are they doing for [workers]? Do they have respirators when they are cutting the gemstones?’” Patino says.
Her new collection features geometric shapes with delicate details and handmade textures so that each piece has a sense of simplicity, strength, and softness. “I went to school for interior [design],” she says, “so I feel that always plays a big part in what I design. I love seeing patterns in wallpaper or tile, shapes that are sculpted in environments, whether it’s a lamp or a reception desk. There’s just so much that I gather in my brain when I design something.”
Now that she’s back to designing for her own line, Patino says the move toward responsible jewelry has brought a new level of purpose and meaning to her work.
“I like going to farm-to-table restaurants and using clean products and shopping organic, because you know where ingredients are coming from,” she says. “There’s an awareness and a sense of empowerment when you know the who and what behind your products.”
Shop the new collection online, at Lusso (165 Carondelet Plaza), or at the Soulard Holiday Parlour Tour on December 7–8.
