July 2007 saw Just Trade sponsor an exciting ethical design award at London’s prestigious New Designers graduate exhibition. Just Trade joined forces with the Association of Contemporary Jewellery to create this years ACJ award which seeks to raise issues relating to sustainable design.

The Association of Contemporary Jewellery is the official body representing jewellers in the UK and Europe, and their recent conference titled Carry The Can raised awareness of designers’ roles and responsibilities towards ethical issues within design. It was with this in mind that Just Trade collaborated on the award.

Judged by ACJ committee member and gallery owner Amanda Mansell, esteemed jeweller Angie Boothroyd and our very own Laura Cave, the award reflects Just Trade’s philosophy on high quality design-led contemporary products and emphasises the importance of collaboration between designers and fair trade projects.

From over 200 graduating jewellers the work of Hayley Mardon, of Edinburgh College of Art, was unanimously voted as the clear winner.

Hayley’s work has roots in her visual memories of her home in Zimbabwe, using bold colours and textures, and leaving marks in her materials to reveal the construction and process used. She is also actively involved in fair trade projects in Africa, working with Made, a jewellery project who also supply to Just Trade.

Just Trade was delighted with the outcome and the event was a great success. We hope to be able to continue relationships both with the ACJ and with young designers to raise the quality and profile of ethical design in jewellery. We wish Hayley every success with her work, which stands in her in good stead for future collaborations.