THE BEST DESIGN IS SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
All Zelma Rose designs begin with 100% cotton and sustainable hemp cord. Leather is sourced from reliable suppliers, made in the USA and free of lead, AZO and chromium. Cotton is a favorite material due to its minimal weight, beautiful drape, and natural origin. Hemp creates beautiful design details due to its durability and sustainability.
All cord colors are hand dyed in small batches with significant attention paid to materials used and water consumption. All vats are dyed using my own custom mixes of Fiber Reactive Dye from local Dharma Trading Company. Dharma has been responsibly creating their own dyes since 1969.
Fiber Reactive Dyes have a natural base and work beautifully on cotton, and offer consistent deep and permanent color without residue, fading, or rub off. They utilize a soda ash fixative, which has minimal impact environmentally and once a dye vat is complete, the water is pumped right back into the waste water supply. No special environmental clean up required.
All cord is washed both before and after dyeing. Like colors are washed together to minimize water use. Currently each color sits in only 6 gallons of water yielding about 6 months of cord. Once dyed and washed, cord is laid to dry in the California sun.
Zelma Rose designs are minimal to zero waste. We measure twice and cut once. The original weave used in the Estero Necklace, Tomales Necklace, Drake Bracelet and Muir Necklace are created with zero waste.
Other designs like the Bonita Necklace are woven with minimal waste and remains are saved and used to create the Headlands Bracelet.
All designs are finished with high quality brass end caps, jump rings, and clasps.
All designs are shipped in recyclable materials. Each item arrives in its own reusable cotton bag and a box with post-consumer waste business cards and postcards. Carbon emissions from shipping are calculated and offset with a matching donation to the Jara Para Forest Conservation Project in the Amazon Rainforest.
