Upcycling is taking something that’s old, unused, or considered "waste" and transforming it into something new and more valuable—without breaking it down completely like in recycling. It’s creative, eco-friendly, and often results in one-of-a-kind items. Scallop Design Co. takes unused or discarded materials to create new pieces of jewelry.
Is everything upcycled?
No! Scallop Design Co. offers both upcycled jewelry and non-upcycled jewelry. You can filter our items if you are interested in purchasing items that are upcycled, and the descriptions clearly state when an item is upcycled or not.
We purchase our non-upcycled materials from small businesses that use sustainable practices. Our pearls are responsibly sourced from a small aquaculture farm and our findings are purchased through Rio Grande. Rio Grande holds strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices, and their facility has been entirely powered by solar since 2010.
How do I care for my jewelry?
We recommend taking your jewelry off when showering or in the water. Of course, we know it is sometimes easy to forget! Wearing your jewelry in the water once or twice won't ruin it but it may cause it to tarnish.
Why doesn't my jewelry look exactly like the photo?
The beauty of upcycling and things naturally produced in the ocean and earth is that nothing is exactly the same! And what is really cool is that you now own a piece of jewelry completely unique to you.