ERICA WEINER

Erica started designing and making jewelry out of her Lower East Side apartment in 2005. Before that, she honed her design and production skills as a theatrical costumer and a samplemaker in the fashion industry. Over the years and throughout her travels, she gathered a collection of curiosities and used them to develop a line of jewelry with an emphasis on craftsmanship and affordability. The collection grew exponentially, as did her fan base. There seemed to be a never-ending demand for locally made, affordable vintage-inspired jewelry, designed with a sense of humour. Erica Weiner Jewelry can now be  found in shops around the world. Her work is interesting, interactive, and beautiful.

In 2007, Erica and co-founder Lindsay Salmon moved  the studio into a sun-filled workspace on Chrystie  Street. Together they travel around the country,  searching out interesting materials to transform into  new jewelry. A team of trusted friends carry out almost  every aspect of the business in house. They believe in  responsible employment (that means health  insurance for everyone working there).

Their environmental policy: Packing materials are  reused and mailers are 90% post-consumer paper and  100% recyclable. About half of their jewelry materials  are vintage, dead stock and repurposed. They offset  300% of their carbon output through  www.carbonfun.org  Most importantly, all of their  jewelry is handmade in NYC; it always has been and  always will be. 5% of all after-tax profits from Erica  Weiner Jewelery are donated to charities.