The Fashion Law Edit Presents: MATILDE Jewellery
Using lab grown diamonds, Fairtrade packaging and recycled gold, MATILDE Jewellery is the innovative, new brand offering an ethical alternative to jewellery design. TFLE caught up with founder Matilde Faria Mourinho Felix and the impact she hopes to have on the sustainable jewellery industry.
MATILDE Jewellery founder Matilde Faria Mourinho Felix
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Hannah: Why did you decide to launch a sustainable jewellery brand compared to venturing into ethical fashion?
Matilde: I have always loved jewellery and the power it has to tell your story in a way that needs no words. It’s a beautiful way to adorn yourself with meaning, while making a statement about who you are and what you believe in. I personally feel jewellery is more meaningful than clothes. If the jewellery is high quality and timeless, it can and usually is, passed down through generations, which isn’t always the case with fashion. There are a lot more fashion brands focused on being sustainable and ethical, because there is so much out there on the harmful effects of fast fashion compared to jewellery which is not as widely discussed.
Hannah: Where do you get your inspiration from when designing new pieces?
Matilde: I take inspiration from everything around me, specifically from the movements and forms found in nature, from the stars, water, and natural movements of the elements. For the Heritage Collection I was strongly inspired by my Portuguese heritage and the Coracao de Viana, filigree, and the culture and style of my home country. I also find inspiration from the jewellery I’ve seen on my mother and friends. I see what I like and don’t like and what I feel is missing. I try to incorporate that into my own designs.
Celestial Ring Still Life | MATILDE Jewellery
Hannah: Do you have a favourite piece from the collection that personally resonates with you?
Matilde: All the pieces resonate with me in different ways because of the different inspirations behind them, but if I had to pick one it would be the Lady Rose Necklace. It was designed, inspired, and named after someone who holds a special place in my heart, who is beautiful, but tough, just like a rose. It’s the necklace I always wear and never take off.
Lady Rose Necklace Still Life | MATILDE Jewellery
Hannah: Many of us are unaware of how our jewellery has been sourced. How important was it for your brand to be completely transparent in where your materials come from?
Matilde: It was vital from the beginning. One of the reasons why I decided to build a sustainable jewellery brand is because of my own lack of knowledge about where most of my jewellery had been sourced from, so it was really important for MATILDE Jewellery to be as transparent as possible about not only how our materials are sourced, but how our pieces are produced.
Heritage Bangle Model | MATILDE Jewellery
Hannah: Do you think the way forward for luxury jewellery brands is to start using lab grown diamonds and recycled gold?
Matilde: Yes absolutely. I think if there are more sustainable and ethical alternatives to the traditional jewellery industry methods, then any brand that can do so should try to be as sustainable as possible.
Hannah: What is your aim for MATILDE Jewellery going forward?
Matilde: My ambition is to have a real impact on the jewellery industry by allowing more people to be able to choose sustainable jewellery products. Right now, our main focus is to really authentically and organically grow the brand and its community. We have a lot of exciting things coming soon in 2021!
Shop the collection and discover more at matildejewellery.com