Episode 20: Charmed by a Cause: Sustainable Jewelry with a Social Conscience

Apurv : Hello and welcome to the Product Life Podcast where we talk to successful entrepreneurs and business leaders about their journey to success. Today we are joined by Regan, the co-founder of Charmed by a Cause, an ethical fine jewelry e-commerce brand. Regan, thank you so much for being here today.

Regan : Thank you for having me, I'm really excited to be here.

Apurv : Can you tell us about your journey in the world of sustainable and ethical fashion and how you came to co-found Charmed by a Cause?

Regan : Sure, my partner Betsy Millikin and I had a fashion jewelry company in the 90s called Rumble Fish. We used vintage trim and materials, so we didn't even know we were being eco-friendly, but we used all eco-friendly old things and turned them into jewelry. We were in a lot of magazines, it went really well, and then life changed a little bit. I got married, she moved away, so we stopped Rumble Fish. Some years ago, we started Charmed by a Cause because we were commissioned to make a charm for an event in California that was to give celebrities a piece of jewelry to celebrate their philanthropic exercises in the community. So, we created a charm for them, and then we thought, "Wow, we should do this, this is great." It was well-received, and that's how Charmed by a Cause started.

Apurv : Got it. So, Charmed by a Cause is an ethical fine jewelry e-commerce brand with a focus on giving back and non-profit collaborations. Can you tell us about some of the non-profit collaborations you have had and the impact they have made?

Regan : Right now, when someone buys something retail off our e-commerce site, we have a drop-down menu where 10% of the purchase price goes to a non-profit. We have the Little Wish Foundation, which is a foundation for kids in the hospital who have cancer, so they grant wishes. Impact One is another fantastic partner that helps women going through breast cancer with free wigs and anything they need support. Woodstock Farm Sanctuary is a farm sanctuary for animals that have been mistreated and released or escaped from being harmed for food production. But we also do specific charms for charity, and that's what we're moving into our new focus. We created one for Operation Light Shine, which helps bring awareness and stop human trafficking, and we just created a charm for one of our non-profits, the Little Wish Foundation, that I'm wearing. We meet with them over Zoom or in person and collaborate because we don't want to make just a logo piece of jewelry. We want it to have meaning, and it opens up a dialogue.

Apurv : Well, it's clear that Charmed by a Cause is making a positive impact in both the jewelry industry and the world. So, how has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business, and how have you adapted to the challenges it has presented?

Regan :  think the pandemic made us pivot, like it did for a lot of people and businesses. Right before the pandemic, we had just started selling into retail stores, but they all ended up folding. We had to make a decision about whether we wanted to be in the fashion industry anymore, even if it's more sustainable. So, we decided to really go full force on the non-profits and do something that's meaningful because most of the time when non-profits do things that are branded, it's a t-shirt or a water bottle or a throwaway piece of jewelry. If we can design a specific, beautiful piece of jewelry, someone might be inclined to wear it more often than a t-shirt or show their water. As for our materials, we use recycled gold and ethically sourced gemstones. We work with suppliers who adhere to strict environmental and social responsibility standards, ensuring that our materials are not only beautiful but also sustainable and ethical. In addition, we also use vintage and antique pieces in some of our designs. By repurposing existing materials, we reduce the environmental impact of our production process. Overall, we're committed to making sure that our jewelry is not only beautiful but also ethically and sustainably made. We believe that fashion and sustainability can go hand in hand, and we're proud to be part of the movement towards a more responsible and conscious fashion industry.

Apurv : That's really inspiring, Regan. It's great to see a company that is not only creating beautiful and unique jewelry but also making a positive impact on the world.

Regan: Thank you so much, Apurv. We're really passionate about what we do, and we believe that everyone can make a difference in their own way, no matter how small. By choosing to support ethical and sustainable brands like ours, consumers can help create a more responsible and conscious fashion industry.

Apurv : Well, thank you so much for joining us today, Regan. It's been a pleasure talking to you and learning more about Charmed by a cause.