Cute bracelets made from recycled metal and money that goes to a good cause? What’s not to love! That’s what Jessica Mindich, a former lawyer from New Jersey, was thinking when she started Jewelry for a Cause, a company that believes “purchasing jewelry could be guilt-free, even an act of philanthropy.”
Having designed jewelry to increase awareness for Alzheimers and the shortage of drinking water in developing nations, this mother of two is now using her design talents to raise awareness for gun violence. She started her Caliber Collection about a year ago by using 250 guns seized from crime scenes of Newark, New Jersey. The first wave of the collection includes steel bangles and cuffs engraved with the serial numbers of the guns that were melted down. She also made brass bangles and cuffs used from found shell casing.
With full support of Newark Mayor Cory Booker, future pieces of the Caliber Collection will be made using guns acquired from the Newark Police Department buyback program. Some proceeds from all the jewelry bought goes right back to the Newark gun program. Recently, Mindich gave them a check for $20,000. In the future, Mildich is also hoping to include other cities in her designs. “Sadly,” she says “I will never run out of supply.”
So if you are looking for a stylish gift or just a new piece for your collection, check out the simple and chic collection.
Photos via calibercollection.com, webecoist.momtastic.com
