Stephen Webster Presents ‘When All is Gold’

We are delighted to present ‘When all is Gold’ a film by Heidi Greensmith following celebrated British jewelry designer Stephen Webster on the trail of the world’s first Fairtrade Gold.

The film documents Webster’s trip to Peru in January 2011 to experience firsthand the difference that Fairtrade certification will make to small scale and artisanal mining communities, as well as to trace the origin of this precious metal.

Watch the trailer here:

The first Stephen Webster Fairtrade Gold will be available in spring 2011 as part of the brand’s first Engagement and Wedding Ring collection.

Watch the full film online at:

http://www.stephenwebster.com/world/tumblr.aspx

About Stephen Webster

Stephen Webster, Founder and Creative Director of Stephen Webster Ltd and a Creative Director of the world’s oldest jewellery house Garrard since 2008, is one of the leading British jewellery designers.  Webster’s keen eye for detail, expert craftsmanship and glam-rock attitude has given way to dramatic creations with an eternally chic aesthetic.  Having evolved into a powerful global luxury jewellery brand, Stephen Webster now boasts over 200 points of sale worldwide and 7 boutiques internationally in London, Beverly Hills, Moscow, St Petersburg, Kiev, Vienna and Marbella. Having received countless coveted jewellery awards, Webster has built a dedicated fan base and is a firm favourite with celebrities across the globe; from Madonna to Christina Aguilera, Kate Moss, Sir Elton John, Mickey Rourke and Kate Beckinsale to name but a few.

About Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold

The world’s first Fairtrade and Fairmined gold went on sale on 14^th February in a groundbreaking effort to secure a fair deal for gold miners and their communities.

This groundbreaking move will open up new opportunities for thousands of impoverished small-scale and artisanal miners in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to sell under Fairtrade and Fairmined terms and through the Fairtrade premium, invest in business improvement and community projects.

Fairtrade and Fairmined gold has the potential to radically reform the gold jewellery sector radically, improving the lives of millions of miners and their communities in some of the world’s poorest regions.

Though artisanal and small-scale miners produce 10% of global gold supplies, they account for 90% of labour in gold extraction, experiencing high levels of poverty. The launch of Fairtrade and Fairmined certified gold provides a lifeline for communities who find themselves at the mercy of volatile markets, when agriculture and other livelihoods are not viable.

Many miners often face exploitation from middle men who pay below market prices and cheat them on weight and purity of the gold content. Mining communities usually lack basic sanitation, clean and safe drinking water and have poor housing, little or no access to education or healthcare and are financially unstable. Fairtrade and Fairmined certification is an important development tool, and will complement other development interventions.

The project was first piloted by ARM (Alliance for Responsible Mining) with nine mining organisations in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. More mining organisations from Latin America will shortly join the system. ARM is also establishing a network of pilot projects in Africa, and later in Asia.

Fairtrade and Fairmined gold will be first launched in the UK and then rolled out to other countries with a long term vision of capturing 5% of the gold jewellery market over a 15-year period. Fairtrade and Fairmined gold will be co-labelled, bearing both the FAIRTRADE Mark and the Fairmined Mark, demonstrating the strength of the partnership between the two organisations.