Pippa Small was one of those people who seemed to fall into her life’s calling. As a child, she faithfully collected seashells, gems, and any rock or trinket that had even the slightest glimmer of beauty. Pippa saw beauty not just in each stone’s physical appearance, but in the memories that were associated with it. A button was more than just a button; it was a charm evocative of fond feelings from the past, a representation of something much greater than itself.
Pippa was a storyteller, and her love for people and memories influenced her entire life. She designed and sold jewelry to fund her college years, and later fused her interests together while working abroad with native communities. She has since been named an ambassador for Survival International, a movement to support tribal communities. Currently Pippa Small Jewelry has four projects running in separate underprivileged countries, each collection inspired by the talents of the natives.
Pippa was initially drawn to Panama because of the intricate blouse textiles, known as Mola’s. The design of each Mola is meant to tell a story of a soul’s journey, and the women of Panama all wore beautiful charms and gold accents to accompany the Mola’s. Pippa immediately began working with the women to create golden disks with engraved patterns, each handmade piece representing a story and reflecting the beauty of the women who crafted it.
In Bolivia, gold is of utmost purity and incredibly malleable. Pippa took advantage of this, and working with a goldsmith there she was able to create a collection of natural, smooth pebbles. The beautiful, tiny sculptures are then strung on alpaca wool, and the designs benefit a local mine that has been making great strides for the local community. Similarly, in Afghanistan Pippa worked with local craftsman to create a collection made from Afghan turquoise. The project changed up the local’s daily routine: in such a war-torn part of the world, they were allowed an escape that taught the women important skills.
In Africa, Pippa worked with disadvantaged communities to build jobs. The designer-inspired creations helped to train local artisans and improve working conditions. The training set natives up for good future business by teaching lifelong skills that helped grow the community dynamic. The results were so great that Pippa Small Jewelry inspired other locals to create their own jewelry shop, further driving the local business.
Each collection Pippa Small has worked on has been in conjunction with the natives of each land. The collections have mutual benefit: they not only beautiful jewelry, but set up tribal communities for a better trading system. To learn more about Pippa Small’s philanthropy and take a look her gorgeous, original jewelry, visit www.pippasmall.com.
