Multiple strands of hand-dyed, vibrantly colored açaí beads come together to make an eye-catching statement necklace. 18-20 inches long.

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Acai (ah-sai-ee) Açaí seeds come from the Açaí palm, Euterpe oleracea, which is found in the lush rainforests of South America. These trees grow predominantly in swamps and in floodplains, and reach heights of approximately 45 to 90 feet tall. Small dark purple berries grow in dense clusters on the palm, and each contains a single seed about 0.25–0.4 inches in diameter. The fruit is harvested for food, and is most often served as a beverage. It has gained global fame in recent years due to its high antioxidant and energizing properties. In addition, Açaí leaves are used to make various handicrafts, such as hats and baskets, and Açaí wood is often used in construction.

Amanda Judge founded Andean Collection in the fall of 2008 after interviewing women in rural Ecuador about their survival strategies in the face of poverty. The project was intended to result in an academic paper that presented potential programs to reduce poverty in these areas. As it turned out, instead of just writing about these potential projects, she decided to turn her ideas into an employment generating social enterprise.

Amanda learned through the interviews that Ecuador has a long history of creating jewelry out of rainforest seeds. Her research also showed that opening the global market for jewelry made out of these natural materials would bring sustainable change to these communities in a way no non-profit organization alone could. Without a lucrative market to sell their jewelry, many artisans had to forgo meals to feed their children. They needed a better option.

This was motivation enough to develop a project that would bring employment to these communities. However, there was an added incentive. Amanda has a background in jewelry design, and she knew that the global market would fall in love with the look and feel of these natural materials, as she did. Using these local materials, the Andean Collection now creates inspired designs that fuse the urban with the rural, the natural with the modern.

While still on the first trip to Ecuador, Amanda began by finding artisans who had a drive to create a better life in their communities. After extensive business training, design workshops and teaching the artisans how to use email and even write on the Andean Collection blog, the artisans were excited to be a part of a new business.

Our NYC team, with help from artisans in Ecuador, continuously develops chic new designs inspired by the fusion of our urban surroundings in NYC and the natural beauty of Ecuador. This focus on design has grounded the Andean Collection jewelry as a revered brand in both the mainstream and green fashion industries. Our collection can now be found in over 1,500 locations around the world and we currently work with over 40 artisans who hand craft each design in Ecuador, using local materials.

We are motivated by the transformation of our artisans’ lives, and inspired by the world we live in. We hope it is the same for you.