I have found a few simple definitions of Sustainable that i find most relevant.
- Sustainability the quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources and thereby supporting long term ecological balance.
- Sustainable a system that maintains its own viability by using techniques that allow for continued re-use. - able to be maintained or kept going, as an action or process.
The UN took a look into global environment problems in 1983 and came up with this effective definition -
That which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In relation to jewellery i would put 'needs', because there is no real need for jewellery. In Bruce Metcalfs' paper
On The Nature of Jewellery he talks about the five functions of jewellery:
- Attachment to the body
- Personal decoration
- Social identity/status
- Portable wealth
- Spiritual
I see my jewellery predominately fitting under Personal decoration- visually stimulating in terms of colour, contrast and texture. As well as social identity/status- social perceptions- The type or style of jewellery a wearer chooses often speaks for them within a social grouping or stereo type. i think Narrative jewellery would also fall under this 'function', some of my work is narrative. From this I suppose i need to create my own jewellery specific definition of sustainability....... ah in time, it will come :)
Eg This simple pierced pendant of mine not only serves as decoration but would also say something about the wearer who chooses it, most likely a nature lover.
