The Vrai x Bottletop sustainable #togetherband with gold and diamonds
A new Valentine’s Day collaboration from above-ground diamond jewelry brand Vrai and sustainable luxury house Bottletop sets the sustainability bar high, featuring carbon-neutral diamonds and a cord that’s made from marine waste. The Vrai x Bottletop bracelet will be available on vrai.com from January 29, $325, and in support of the United Nations’ #togetherband campaign, a percentage of sales will go towards organisations supporting two of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in a collaboration that looks like the perfect symbol of love for the planet this Valentine’s Day.
Climate-positive jewelry
Many jewelry brands are currently surfing the wave of sustainable luxury, but not all can say that their raw materials are as ethical as these. Vrai CEO Mona Akhavi is excited to be able to use several sustainable materials together in a piece that epitomizes the brand’s timeless, modern style: “We’re thrilled for this collaboration, as we were able to combine multiple sustainable materials like our Diamond Foundry created diamonds, recycled solid gold and recycled ocean plastic, to create a fine jewelry piece.” Each bracelet features a red or black Ocean Plastic® cord made from 2lb of marine waste removed by hand from the ocean by Parley for the Oceans, representing 2lb less of the estimated 8 million tons of plastic in our seas, that harm marine life.
The round brilliant and bezel-set trillion diamonds on the Vrai x Bottletop bracelet are created by Diamond Foundry, which powers its foundry with renewable energy and says it is the only above-ground diamond producer that’s Certified Carbon Neutral (R). According to Diamond Foundry, it’s estimated that for each carat of natural diamond mined, up to 250 tons of earth are removed in a process that use 127 gallons of water and releases 143 pounds of carbon dioxide. In bypassing mining, sustainably created alternatives help keep the earth intact and make it possible to remove ethical supply chain concerns entirely, by selling stones direct to jewelers and consumers.
Recycled gold and sustainable diamonds on the Vrai x Bottletop #togetherband bracelet
The recycled gold and diamond charm is based on the handbag logo of British luxury house Bottletop, which aims to create environmentally and ethically positive bags and accessories. The brand shot to recognition in 2002, after a collaboration with Mulberry on a wire-frame handbag made out of bottle tops and lined with Mulberry leather. It proved a hit with the fashion crowd, raising money for the Bottletop Foundation that supports community and education projects in Africa, Brazil and the U.K.
Harnessing technology and creativity for the future of our planet
Today, the label continues to upcycle and reuse waste and discarded materials to create luxury goods, empowering artisans in ateliers around the world. As the creator of #togetherband, Bottletop also says it provides work for the women artisans who make the bracelets in Nepal, joining forces with the United Nations to support the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. A percentage of sales from the Vrai x Bottletop collaboration will go towards organizations supporting Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, and Goal 14: Life Below Water.
For both partners, the bands are more than a fashion statement. “The climate positive science and innovation that sits behind the diamonds in Vrai jewelry is revolutionary,” says Bottletop cofounder Cameron Saul. “It’s a powerful example of how technology and creativity can be harnessed to support a healthy future for our planet, without compromise.”