Capella invests in the industry’s ethical future

The project has seen the company hand-pick students who want to create products incorporating ethical supply chains and recycled metal. Managing director of Capella Kevin Bloor: “It is natural for us to want to support the future of the industry – these are the designers and manufacturers who will be responsible for the continued growth of the UK’s jewellery market.” Recent graduate Jo Taylor worked with Capella to create a fine jewellery range that combined luxury with ethics. She remarked: “I was looking for an ethical supply chain and a refiner that was doing things a little differently. I found out about Capella on the internet and called them up to ask if I could visit, not realising about its programme to support the future of the jewellery industry. “It was fascinating to see the process in detail and the team really fuelled my passion to maintain the integrity of the metal I use in my designs. After a fascinating tour and interview with the team – Capella were even kind enough to sponsor some metal to create my final project.” Capella’s support programme for higher education students is part of the refiner’s on-going commitment to the industry. To date, Capella is the only UK-based refiner that has been audited and FLO-CERT accredited to process Fairtrade and Fairmined gold. Melissa Montague, who is studying an MA in Design at Sheffield Hallam University, has also received support from Capella. “The benefits of working with 100 per cent recycled silver really appealed to me and whilst researching other jewellers and manufacturers in the industry who also specialise in this field, I quickly stumbled upon Capella,” Montague commented. “It was fascinating seeing the process in action and how a pile of scrap metal can be refined and processed into rods and wire of, just about, any dimension you’d ever need. As well as showing me the inner workings of the refining process Capella also kindly supported my current project by supplying me with some recycled metal.” Kevin Bloor concluded: “We really want to support and help the future talent of the industry in the early stages of their careers. This has meant that we have consciously selected a few projects to support to allow us to give them our full attention and support, rather than spreading our support too thinly and not really making an impact on their progress. We hope this will mean that we can really make a difference.”