I first discovered Karen silver jewellery whilst travelling in Northern Thailand, and I instantly fell in love with it. The beautiful shapes and designs, the intricate stamp-work details and the lovely organic feel of the pieces were like nothing I’d ever seen before. Ofcourse I bought myself some pieces as souvenirs, and they have become some of my most treasured pieces of jewellery. I’m so thrilled and excited that I can now share this amazing jewellery tradition through my shop, whilst supporting the amazingly skilled artisan craftspeople who create these magical jewels, helping to keep this important cultural tradition alive. 

The Karen people originate from Myanmar (the word ‘Karen’ is an Anglicisation of the Burmese word Kayin ကရင်), but many have migrated to the remote hills of Northern Thailand, along the Thailand-Myanmar border. Around 400,000 Karen people live at high altitudes between 800m-1800m in the densely-forested mountainous regions of Mae Hong Son, west of Northern Thailand’s main hub, Chiang Mai. Traditional Karen dwellings are beautifully constructed from teak or bamboo, and are usually raised on stilts to provide shelter underneath for livestock. 

Silversmithing is a long-held tradition amongst Karen people (especially the Kayan tribe), who believe that silver has magical powers and properties ~ a belief that is ancient in origin. Karen silver jewellery is unique in that it is crafted from 99.9% pure silver, rather than 92.5% (sterling) silver used in most other jewellery making traditions. This gives the pieces a unique feel, weight and finish, unlike any other silver. Each piece is hand-crafted using traditional techniques, with only a pair of skilled hands and a hammer, and this expert craftsmanship is imbued within each piece. With each piece of Karen silver, you can really see that it’s been made by hand, with evidence of the hand-hammering visible on each piece. This is something I love and value so much. 

The Karen jewellery available on my shop has been purchased through a social enterprise who work with the Karen people, paying them wages greater than the average and helping them to create a positive alternative to producing illicit crops up on the mountains. This in turn helps to preserve the traditional art of handcrafting silver jewellery, turning it into a profitable industry for those who would otherwise be marginalised. Through the sale of Karen silver, the social enterprise also helps to fund education programmes, the building of schools and training for local villages ~ all within their own communities. 

I’m so so happy to be able to support this amazing initiative and to bring you some of the most beautiful and unique jewellery I’ve found anywhere in the world ~ I hope you love it as much as I do, and that these pieces can become treasured possessions in your own jewellery collections.