Collection: FREE WOMEN - Zambia

F . R . E . E  (Foundation for the Realization of Economic Empowerment) was started in Zambia with a group of young, inexperienced women, with no previous jewellery making experience . Defying gender norms, they taught themselves metal smithing with copper. Using copper recycled from used water heaters and wire, they transform it into beautiful pieces of jewellery.

Copper will always naturally oxidise and change colour as it’s the nature of copper, to react with oxygen. So one can expect some darkening over time, even with the purely copper pieces. The blue patina is achieved through a combination of mixing salt and household ammonia. The copper reacts and turns blue, creating completely random patterns. All our patina pieces are then sprayed three times with a sealant . Soft (fine) steel wool works best for cleaning the copper. Simply brushing over it with the steel wool will remove any discolouration and revive the shine.

F.R.E.E. Woman jewellery showcases modern Zambian skill in eye-catching wearable art with this copper necklace range , hung from a synthetic cord with a hook clasp. There are matching earrings to complete the set.

F.R.E.E WOMEN

- Zambia

Foundation for the Realization of Economic Empowerment began in 2011 with a training center for sewing in one of Lusaka, Zambia’s peri-urban communities. After a year, 25 women graduated and began their own enterprise. They continually struggled to pay the rent on their tiny shop, let alone make an income to take home. Jewellery looked like a decidedly more lucrative option for economically empowering women so with How To books in one hand and a pair of pliers in the other they began teaching another group of women in Ng’ombe Compound how to create jewellery from copper wire.

Zambia is one of the world’s largest producers of copper but with little local manufacturing. Those early days were a real struggle and the initial group of women all left, without having made a single marketable piece after four months! When they thought the dream would die, two young women arrived and within a week were making sale-able pieces.

Currently a group of 10 young women now manufacture jewellery from their premises in Ng’ombe Compound. They’ve learned how to solder, to etch, to enamel, to string beads, to rivet, to fold form, and a myriad of other skills. 

Memory: Memory is the youngest member of the project. She’s the one who takes an interest in repairs and maintenance of the building and equipment. While the rest of the women just use the torch, Memory has taken the time to learn how to attach the torch to the gas bottles. She doesn’t just see herself as having learned to make jewelry, she sees herself as having learned life skills that give her independence. Memory teaches a class at her church. Her hobbies are reading, singing, and poetry. She is a budding poet herself.

Lisa: Lisa joined the project soon after completing high school. A few months later she got accepted at a local college to study secretarial and office management. She is now in her second year, having managed to keep up with her stock of jewellery designs on school breaks and when time allows. Lisa aspires to be either a secretary or a journalist. We think she’d make a promising jeweller!

Colleen: Colleen joined the group a year after she finished high school. The opportunity arose for her to be trained in silversmithing as the older members of the group wanted to stick with copper. Though she had little experience in working with metals when she started, Colleen quickly learned. She and Jemimah were taught silversmithing for three and

Margaret: Margaret has been with the group the longest of anyone. She got married in 2017 and left the Ng’ombe community to live on the outskirts of Lusaka. She comes to Ng’ombe on weekends to make jewellery. Margaret is very adept in working with her hands. She has taught nearly everyone who is presently in the group. Our goal is that we have sufficient demand for jewellery so she can recruit and train other young women in her neighbourhood.