ZERO WASTE, VEGAN,

RAINFOREST FRIENDLY

açaí SEED accessories to preserve the Amazon

The Yawa #TOGETHER project is a collaboration with the Yawanawá Indigenous community. It enables them to continue the development of a Rainforest Workshop and Atelier to provide training and sustainable, long-term employment making jewellery and bags. The partnership will help preserve the community’s cultural heritage and artisan skills, and allow them to continue their stewardship of the Amazon rainforest.


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Yawa Band

Multi

£30

Yawa Band

Goal 13 Green

£25

Yawa Band

Black

£25

Yawa Band

Goal 3 Red

£25

Yawa Necklace

Black

£45

zero waste 

production

The Yawanawá harvest the açaí fruit from the trees they look after, drink the juice, and then clean, dry and dye the seeds. They use these to make jewellery, like our Yawa #TOGETHER collection.

Recycled 

Metal

The single Humanium Metal bead is made from repurposed from decommissioned seized illegal firearms in Central America. Its production helps to end armed violence and rebuild conflict-torn societies.

Repurposing plastic waste

The stretch thread of your Yawa jewellery is 100% Parley Ocean Plastic®️ created from recycled plastic waste intercepted by Parley from remote islands, shorelines, waters and in coastal communities.

HOW THE COLLECTION IS MADE

the berries

Açaí berries, which look similar to blueberries, have surprisingly large seeds – about 0.8cm in diameter – far bigger than most fruits, making them ideal for jewellery-making. Their natural fibre can be carefully cleaned off so they can be made into beads.

harvesting

The fittest, youngest Yawanawá community members climb the açaí palm trees to collect the branches containing sacred berries between October and March. The community uses the açaí juice to make a popular drink, before the seeds are spread out to dry.

The beads

The seeds are dried and the husks removed before being drilled, sanded and polished into the shapes used in our Yawa products. They are then dyed using natural pigments and hand-threaded into bracelets, necklaces or bags.