RESPONSIBILITY
OUR APPROACH
As a brand that draws its inspiration from the ocean and mother nature, we strive to operate in a way that is kind to the planet. We face constant challenges when it comes to sustainability in this fast-paced, trend-driven industry, but we are dedicated to continually evolving our sustainability efforts so we can preserve the landscapes we love so much.
"Trying to act truly sustainably is incredibly challenging in an industry that is so driven by seasonal consumption and newness. For us, sustainable fashion means embracing a slower, non-seasonal approach and creating meaningful pieces that can last.” - Harriet
We acknowledge we are not perfect. We need to use certain natural resources to create our jewelry, but we try to reduce our impact as much as possible through our production and distribution methods. We also encourage our clients to consume our products wisely by advocating for the slow fashion movement and creating high quality, long lasting jewelry.
To us, jewelry is a form of art. We believe that our designs, which are infused with our founder Harriet’s background in sculpture and art, deserve to be preserved and cherished just like the iconic pieces in museums and galleries.
our ethos
Oceano is a culmination of our founder’s diverse background. Our pieces embody Harriet’s Mauritian heritage and artistic skill, and are meticulously crafted to promote originality and uniqueness.
We provide the highest levels of quality while reducing our environmental impact through our local craftsmanship. All of our pieces are lovingly handmade in our Mauritius workshop with premium materials, and are personally tested by Harriet to ensure everyday wearability.
We try to only produce what we need, so we create small, seasonless batches to avoid overproduction. Our designs are fairly priced from the get-go and are not made to eventually be marked down, which is why you’ll rarely see us holding sales. You may see pieces and collections sell out more frequently, but rest assured we’re doing our best to bring them back in a swift yet sustainable manner.
our team
We are a proudly women-led business, and have been from the start. Within our growing team, we benefit from female leadership in our sales, accounting, and marketing departments.
Oceano pearls is a proudly women-led business. Our growing team includes female managers in both our retail, accounting, and marketing departments. These talented women have helped us expand into an emerging jewelry brand in Mauritius and beyond.
our workshop
All of our jewelry is lovingly handmade in our Mauritius Island workshop. Our small, authentic workshop is the heart of the business. It’s located on the property where our founder Harriet grew up, surrounded by sugar cane fields. The business started here with Harriet and our jeweler Ismet, Oceano’s longest employee.
We take pride in our meticulous craftsmanship and high quality materials. Ismet sculpts our ocean-inspired pieces with genuine pearls, sterling silver, gold vermeil and solid gold. The raw materials are imported, but everything else is made entirely in Mauritius. Our sculptural settings are crafted from real shells found on local beaches, mostly from the wild south where the workshop is situated. When you’re wearing Oceano, you’re not just wearing jewelry. You’re carrying the treasures of Mauritius and the dedication of our team.
our pearls
Our AAA quality pearls are sourced from sustainable farms in the Philippines and Polynesia. We work with suppliers that share our love for the ocean, and operate in a manner that promotes marine biodiversity.
Our pearls are carefully cultivated over the course of several months or even years, so as not to put excess strain or stress on the mollusks that host them. In turn, the mollusks act as natural filters for the ocean by improving water quality and fostering a healthy ecosystem. We prefer this slow and gentle method to larger farms that exploit marine wildlife and pollute waters with toxic chemicals.
Sustainable sourcing is one of our biggest challenges. As much as we would love to be a completely local operation, many of our materials can only be sourced from abroad. We always try our best to find suppliers who share our values, and continually educate ourselves to make sure we’re forming the best decisions for our business, clients, and the earth.
Learn more about our materials here.