Charities to benefit from new jewellery merchandise designed by students

East London second year jewellery and silversmithing undergraduates were last week put through their paces as part of a groundbreaking project to generate new commercial income for the UK’s charities.

Their design efforts were presented at a final judging session spearheaded by Shaun Leane, founder of jewellery masters the House of Shaun Leane and acclaimed for his work with Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen.

The students, based at the Cass (London Metropolitan University) in Whitechapel, have spent the past six months competing to design and prototype a piece of jewellery to raise funds for charitable causes.

The winning designs will be produced and sold exclusively through the MAD online store; a new concept in charity fundraising that donates 100 per cent of the profit of every jewellery purchase after wholesale to the shopper’s charity of choice.

Any charity can register for the scheme free of charge and benefit from additional income without any upfront risk or on-going costs.

The winning design was the handiwork of Caroline Jackson, whose project ‘We all need a little help to grow’ inspired the judges with its combination of high quality silversmithing, widespread aesthetic appeal, heart-warming concept and potential to generate sustainable income.

The design features a silver pendant in the form of an opening flower pod, into which individual gemstone ‘seeds’ can be hung, featuring different coloured gemstones that reflect different flowers and their emotional and spiritual connotations.