::: Sustainability :::

::: Artisans & suppliers :::

Atelier Ana earrings are handmade and carefully sourced from women-owned small suppliers.

But what does this mean, “carefully sourced”? What exactly is a “woman-owned small supplier?” How small is “small”?

Well, all Atelier Ana earrings are handmade by sole trader artisans running their own businesses - all of them women - who are based in the UK, US and Canada. This way, Atelier Ana can support women in enterprise and know how the earrings are crafted.

This applies to all but one supplier.

This one small enterprise is a UK-based organisation, owned and run by a woman whose mission it is to raise women - the handcrafting artisans - and their families out of abject poverty in Delhi (and surrounding areas) in India, while ensuring that ethically-sourced and sustainable products are accessible to all.

The business ensures each purchase positively impacts the lives of the artisans and their surrounding communities. It ensures they are being paid a living wage while giving them access to an international market and fairer prices for their goods.

Economic empowerment of women in India in this way increases health, reduces childhood malnutrition, increasing access to education and wellbeing of entire communities, with up to 90% of all income earned by women universally staying within and supporting their communities.

Our products from this supplier ensure:

• Products are made by women-led groups and handcrafted by female artisans
• All employees are paid an adequate living wage
• A workplace that is free from hazards and maintains working conditions that are safe and healthy for their employees
• A maximum standard working hours of 48 hours a week/8hrs day
• Products are made from ethical and sustainable materials, promoting recycled and upcycled products
• Fair Trade Standards (WFTO) are followed
• All employees are above the legal minimum working age (no child labour)
• Free health insurance is provided to all its artisans
• Access to an established dispensary/ health care centre that has a medical doctor and a paramedic among its day-to-day support

::: Who does 'women-owned' include? :::

Atelier Ana is an inclusive boutique and our definition of “women-owned suppliers” could include trans women, who we feel are among some of society’s most marginalised people. We respect everyone's privacy on this matter too.

Fashion earrings like those available in the online boutique are predominantly worn by women, including trans women - therefore, it is important to the ethos of the company that the earrings are handmade and sold by artisans who represent our main customer base, and who can benefit from people - who identify as women - supporting each other. 

We like to be inclusive, welcoming and supportive, and that includes to the wonderful men of the world too, who may wish to wear or gift Atelier Ana earrings.

::: Eco-packaging :::

All Atelier Ana purchases are shipped in beautiful eco-packaging as follows:

• Recycled and recyclable Atelier Ana-branded cardboard postage box (no plastic bag)
• Recycled and recyclable tissue paper
• No sticker (so the tissue paper doesn’t tear and can be re-used)
• A Fairtrade cotton jewellery pouch
• Re-usable handmade gold-coloured teardrop paper clips, to hold everything in place
• A recycled and recyclable business card
• Even our small-as-possible postage label is recycled and recyclable paper

::: Gifting :::

You can choose to add preserved rose petals to your packaging, as a treat for yourself or for someone else. You can add this option on each product page, before reviewing your shopping cart or reaching checkout.

Preserving the petals means they will last up to two years. They will eventually biodegrade but until then, they can be re-used – they make a perfect table decoration for a dinner party or celebration, or can be re-used in parcel packaging.

::: Shipping :::

We send packages in 'large letter'-sized recycled boxes, rather than parcels, to ensure they have as small a 'footprint' on the environment as possible.