THE FIRST NOMAD JEWELER

Jessica Hudson, founder

I was born with a humanitarian heart and a love for nature, travel, and cultures around the world. When looking back at my first international visit to India at the age of 16 and remembering what I saw while driving through the slums of what was then Bombay, I can vividly recall the images seen and the heartache felt that forever changed me.

From that moment my mission in life became to find some way to help better and empower the lives of those in need. Since then I have returned to India multiple times, as well as new ventures to countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America. As the years went by, I found myself completely captivated and taken by the mysterious beauty of gems. The fact that each gemstone has its own unique composition, similar to people, was intriguing. It was this thought and my knack for design that propelled me into the world of jewelry.

This was exciting until my investigative nature led me to the harsh reality and untold truth behind the jewelry industry. Appalled by what I had learned, my first reaction was to walk away from all things related to jewelry. After some thought and research, I discovered an emerging movement in the industry shining light on issues concerning child labor, funding conflict zones, etc., as well as implementing initiatives towards change and transparency within the supply chain.

I am now an advocate for artisanal mining communities across the globe. Every step involved in creating a piece of jewelry, from mine to market, must have purpose and intention behind it. Whether it be traveling to Colombia to meet with the men and women (yes, women!) who mine for Fairmined gold, to Sri Lanka to learn about the mining and cutting practices of sapphires or to Tahiti to learn more about eco-pearl farming, the aim is always the same; to develop trust and transparency within our jewelry industry.