Tagua Nut Lorena Earrings
Every Purchase of our Sustainable, Handmade, Organic Jewelry Creates an Economic Opportunity
Join us in our mission to provide life changing opportunities for our Ecuadorian Artisans
…It all started with a puzzle piece.
How Organic Tagua Jewelry Started
Founder and Creative Director Soraya Cedeno has a very long history of working closely with local and national autism foundations to increase awareness and improve the lives of persons with autism and their families. As a fundraiser, Soraya was (and still is) constantly searching for unique ways to generate donations. This provided an extraordinary opportunity to marry two of her passions: giving back to her village in Ecuador and helping those affected by autism by creating a puzzle piece bracelet from Tagua. Due to the success of the puzzle piece bracelet, Soraya was able to launch Organic Tagua Jewelry and share the beauty and creativity of her people's work with the world. Organic Tagua Jewelry is based in Stuart, FL, and is family owned and operated.
About The Founder
Soraya Cedeno was born in a small coastal village in Ecuador, renowned as a haven for gifted artisans specializing in a relatively unknown raw material: Tagua. Soraya carried her love of her people and her culture as she traveled the world and looked for ways to give back to those who inspired her as a child. Influenced by high fashion in New York and Miami, Soraya works with local artisans in her hometown in Ecuador. This jewelry is not only organic, eco-friendly and sustainable, its creation provides unparalleled economic opportunity to the artisans who produce it. In support of this mission, Soraya developed a partnership with the Government of Ecuador to provide business management education and training to empower the artisans with professional knowledge and skills of management, communication and productivity.
Vegetable Ivory
About Tagua
All of our products are handcrafted from a palm tree nut native to the lush tropical rainforests of Ecuador. Also referred to as the Ecuadorean Ivory Palm, the Tagua tree produces several bushels of seed pods a year with up to 100 Tagua nuts per pod. These nuts are then harvested, dried, and crafted into a wide range of products from vibrant modern jewelry, ornate figurines, to everyday items like shirt buttons. Also known as Vegetable Ivory, Tagua has the same appearance, density, and feel of animal ivory without doing any harm to any animals or the rainforests where it is gathered.
Go Green, Go Handmade
About Our Jewelry
All of our Organic Tagua Jewelry is handmade and dyed using high-grade certified organic vegetable dyes imported from Italy. Our collections offer a wide range of bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces, figurines, and key chains. Our products are Proposition 65 tested and certified. Due to the scarcity and uniqueness of each piece, no two pieces are exactly the same. Additionally, the colors and/or color combinations available may also vary.
What Makes Organic Tagua Jewelry Different & Unique?
Tagua nut
The Tagua nut grows from a palm tree found mainly in the Ecuadorian rainforests. It is also known as vegetable ivory.It takes the fruit 12-18 months to dry in order to become a hardened, natural nut that we use in our jewelry.
Coconut
Recycled coconut shells found in the rainforests and coastal parts of Ecuador are used to create unique pieces or to accent jewelry. This material adds a rich, luxurious look and can be carved into various shapes.
Acai Berries
Acai berries are found on palm trees in the rainforest. Once gathered, they are dried out, dyed, and polished to create all natural beads for jewelry.
Pambil
Pambil seeds are grown on canopy palm trees found in the rainforest. These seeds are gathered, dried, dyed, and polished to accent many jewelry pieces.
Straw
Straw known as “Paja Toquilla” is found in the mountains of Montecristi, Ecuador, home of the world-renowned “Panama Hats.”All of our straw accessories are woven by hand.
Bombona Seeds
Bombona seeds grow on palm trees found in the rainforests in Ecuador.They are harvested, dried, dyed, and polished to create unique jewelry designs.
Wood
We use recycled pieces of wood that are native to Ecuador to create unique shapes that is used to make earrings, necklaces, or bracelets.
