As a producer of ethical clothing and accessories, why does People Tree sell jewellery made from sea shells?
We have a policy of using natural products in our collection wherever practical. For environmental reasons, we try to avoid plastic or synthetic fibres, especially those made from petroleum products, except where there are no practical alternatives. So our buttons and beads are made from a variety of materials, including coconut, beans, glass, shell and bone. Not everything in our collection is appropriate for vegans. Some species of shellfish are protected species, but some are farmed, like oysters, and others are collected for food and their shells are a by-product. As such, we do not believe that using shell, per se, is inappropriate for People Tree. Obviously no shells of protected or threatened species are used.
