Ever since the Livestrong bracelet, charity jewelry has been popping up all over the place. But over the years, the bracelets and necklaces we've been seeing have evolved from rubber bands to hand-crafted pieces that not only do good, but also look good.
Below are five companies that are donating proceeds to good causes and helping artisans in local communities, all the while creating stunning jewelry. The bracelets below are the perfect reason to pull out your credit card.
Dr. Joerg Zobel, who previously served as PUMA's global strategy director, founded JOYE to offer customizable charm bracelets that support different charitable causes. For example, purchasing a wisdom charm pays for text books and stationery for one child for one school year, while buying the trust charm provides one meal for a family of four during an emergency. JOYE partnered with Friends-International, a charity that works primarily in communities in Southeast Asia. The bracelet above costs $33 for the bracelet, smile charm and one additional charm.
Stella & Dot
California-based company Stella & Do donates 100% of net proceeds from sales of their "Enlighten Bracelet" to Every Mother Counts. The company, which aims to create flexible entrepreneurial opportunities for women, sells the gold-plated brass and leather bracelet for $39.
Following a trip to Cambodia, Jessica Hendricks created The Brave Collection to celebrate the unique community and the courageous women she met during her travels. All the jewelry she sells is handmade by Cambodian artisans who come from underprivileged backgrounds or suffer from disabilities. The artists, who are mostly mothers, all work in a fair and safe work environment where they earn above average wages and receive benefits like health insurance. In addition, The Brave Collection donates 10 percent of all proceeds to Free To Shine Cambodia, an organization which fights human trafficking.
The best part of Bravelets is that you can pick a piece of jewelry based on the cause you want to support. Whether you'd like to donate to multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's research or breast cancer awareness, Bravelets has something for you. $10 from every sale goes to the charity associated with the bracelet's cause.
Lokai's signature bracelet is all about finding balance. The bracelet's black bead holds mud from The Dead Sea, and the white beads hold water from Mount Everest. 10 percent of the net proceeds from each $18 bracelet goes to Lokai's variety of charitable alliances, which include Cure Alzheimer's Fund, Pencils of Promise and a host of other organizations. For a limited time, the company isselling a special blue bracelet, with some proceeds going towards helping to bring clean drinking water to 10,000 people in Ethiopia.