We love this film, it features a community of pearl farmers in a remote locations. Pearls are a renewable resource, unlike other gems that are created over millennia, pearls can be grown in a number of months or years, with equipment that is reused. The production of pearls supports entire villages, empowering women and children in these communities and producing intergenerational livelihoods. The farmers struggled after Typhoon Haiyan destroyed some of their operations, but came together to rehabilitate the farm and have succeeded despite this setback. The community is strong in their sustainable practices, the industry has equal participation from women and men laborers, and the farming supports education for the youth.
The kids in the farming community:
A pearl extracted from a oyster shell:
Watch a trailer for the documentary here:
Congratulations to Ahbra and Taylor for completing this phenomenal documentary!~
See some of these types of pearls on our site here!
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Congratulations Sea of Cortez pearl farm... "keep climbing"!
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Exactly a month ago, we jetted off to Hong Kong to shop the famous pearl show. Jet-lagged but fueled with coffee and laughter we poured over the best pearls the world has to offer for four days straight.
We bought treasures galore and are busy dreaming up new designs!
I'm very excited to work with these natural pearls from the pteria penguin!
They were wild found, and are extremely rare!
I chose each one specifically for a one of a kind collector's piece.
Next stop was Hanoi. It was a joy to have 36 hours in this rich city, so full of life.
Probably the best moment from our short stay in Hanoi was when our office manager ran out of a temple to grab me and show me her favorite part; it was a shaft of light.... that light really seemed to like her too! #kojimagoddess
After a decade away from Ho Chi Minh City, it was so thrilling to see my friends again.
This is Co Bay, she was my neighbor so many years ago. When I showed up at her gate (unannounced after a decade), she wasn't surprised at all, and acted like I was right on time. She is a testament to prayer and clean living. This woman means SO much to me, seeing her again brought me to tears.
Laughing with old friends is the best laughter.
After all the visiting, we jumped head long into preparations for a pearl lecture and trunk show at the Circle of Love in District One, HCMC.
We were prepped for the TV cameras and thirty reporters who showed up for the show!
It was a great time, the shop was gorgeous and the reporters asked really great questions.
Click here for an article in Vietnamese about our visit to Circle of Love.
We spoke mostly about Japan Kasumi pearls. We discussed the history, integrity with which they are farmed and the value of these dear fresh water pearls from Japan.
It was our pleasure to introduce Japan Kasumi pearls to Vietnam !
Thank you Tam Mavroudis and Circle of Love for the opportunity and hospitality!
Directly following the trunk show, we jumped on another flight to Hong Kong, resumed pearl shopping, processed the shipments and then made sure to get in a bit of clothes shopping. :)
Neither these options ended up coming home with us, but the temptation was real.
A day after landing into the peace and quiet light of California, I headed up to Mendocino County for a family reunion.
This pot of gold was the perfect balance to the hectic pace of big Asian cities.
Unfortunately, the peace and calm of our state didn't last long and now we are deep into the worst fire season in California history.
We are hunkered down in the studio by day and reaching out and caring for our friends and family in need by night.
We as a company will be donating to the victims and evacuees of these fires.
The California fires are only one of the MANY disasters humanity is facing right now.
May we all BE and SEE the helpers right now!
We're home for the next couple of months prepping for our Holiday Sale which will start right around Thanksgiving and we have tonnes of pearl designs up our sleeves!
Cheers, Sarah and the KojimaPearl team
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Making this very special piece was a journey.
I chose these micro mabe pearls from the farmers of Sea of Cortez pearls in Guaymas, Mexico one by one.
The Cortez pearl farm is the ONLY saltwater pearl farm in North America...and as you have probably guessed by now...we are in LOVE with their magical colors. Grown in the Pteria sterna oysters in the flourishing and protected waters they are also known as "rainbow lipped oysters"
Micro mabe pearls are appx. 8-9mm in diameter and are hand cut one at a time at the farm on Bacochibampo Bay.
At the center of this 19" long necklace hangs a 2.5" detachable pendant of graduating sizes of mabe pearls with a gigantic gem of 1.5" in length.
We hand set each of these mabe pearls on a sterling silver seat, and each one is bezel set with 14K yellow gold.
The clasp is made of 18K yellow gold and the necklace can be shortened or lengthened as suits your style.
It is a testament to the wide world of pearls to be able to work across a border to create such a stunning piece.
From a sustainable farm in Mexico to the hands of our jeweler here in San Rafael California...this piece took many months to produce.
For more information on Cortez Pearls please see our about the pearls page.
(last photo credit goes to the wonderful Wendy Fairchild)
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