OUR PROCESS
OUR PROCESS
GRAYLING JEWELRY
woman-owned
Promoting and investing in high-quality, woman-made art on a global scale
SUSTAINABLY SOURCED
Recycled metals including SCS Global Certified gold and sterling silver and reclaimed brass
ETHICALLY CRAFTED
Industry-leading safety, environmental, and labor standards with living wages for every maker
Everyday elegance
Founder Katy Kippen started Grayling in 2009 to fulfill her need for high-quality jewelry safe for her sensitive skin. What began as a small, one-person endeavor evolved steadily into a women-led team of talented jewelers.
THE BEAUTY OF HANDMADE
For over ten years, Grayling's team of jewelry artisans have brought Katy's original ideas to life in the company's Portland, Oregon studio. Marrying modern trends with classic silhouettes, the design team selects and sources its raw materials with ethics and sustainability in mind.
In addition, the company emphasizes working with third-party verified recycled metals that are eco-friendly whenever possible, including SCS Global Certified gold and sterling silver.
As the brand expanded, Grayling enhanced its offerings by forming partnerships with highly-skilled artists and craftspeople in Rhode Island and the beautiful country of Thailand.Â
supporting
WOMEN ARTISANS
In 2021, the opportunity to invest in and support women beyond Portland arrived via a newly-formed partnership with native artisans in Thailand.
With castings hand-finished by real humans (never machines), more than 70% of our the makers at our Thai partner facility identify as women. These skilled artists masterfully create high-quality elements for Grayling using a jewelry process known as lost wax casting.Â
From sculpting the master molds to polishing and setting stones, this intricate work requires exceptional precision and specialized skills handed down through generations. Most raw materials are from recycled origins.
Our Thai partner facility is BSCI approved to ensure fair working conditions and is committed to industry-leading safety, environmental, and labor standards. And, a living wage for every artisan means you can feel good about your purchase.
JEWELRY
WITH A CONSCIENCE
Our mission: to create a positive impact in the world by combining size-inclusive, responsibly handmade jewelry designs with friendly service and social purpose.
Grayling is committed to keeping the spirit of handmade jewelry alive through long-standing relationships with family-owned plating houses, chain makers, and craftspeople across the globe.
GENERATIONS OF EXPERIENCE
To diversify Grayling's catalog even further, Katy partnered with a second-generation family-owned jewelry workshop in Rhode Island.
With access to large-scale equipment not available elsewhere, the collaboration brought new processes, capabilities, and jewelry styles.
Grayling's Rhode Island partners learned how to make jewelry first-hand from their father and now manufacture all components using brass from recycled sourcesâcreated by the second generation who grew up on the factory floor. Grade A materials with strict quality control measures ensure flawless jewelry every time.
