76 ECO Spotting a gap in the market for ethical yet beautiful jewellery choices, Ola McGhee launched Île Kekere in 2022 When did you start up and why? Île Kekere sparked into life in 2022, purely out of my passion for marrying traditional luxury with modern, sustainable practices. I started making bracelets from old broken pieces of jewellery with my daughter one day and thought that they were too good not to share. I have always loved jewellery from an early age and an unfortunate burglary where all my jewellery was stolen spurred me on to replace my jewellery collection again. I was increasingly concerned about the origin of the new pieces I was going to buy and noticed that not many companies were transparent about the background to their materials. I wanted good quality jewellery, but I also wanted to pay a reasonable price for it and know where it came from and how it was made. This sparked an idea in me that there was room for a jewellery brand for discerning style mavens who craved jewellery that was exclusive, high-quality, and most importantly, kind to the planet. And thus, we curated Île Kekere, an oasis of ethical elegance for the chic, conscious woman. What prompted you to launch the business? Observing the void in the market for ethical yet stunning jewellery choices, we felt the tug to make elegant and eco-conscious jewellery which go hand in hand brilliantly, creating a harmony that resonates with the chic, eco-aware woman of today. This vision gave birth to Île Kekere. What challenges have you overcome since the company’s launch? Sustaining luxury on an ethical path is not a piece of cake. Challenges we encountered ranged from sourcing ethical materials that didn’t compromise on quality, ensuring our manufacturers received fair payment, right through to maintaining an accessible price point. Each step requires careful thought, plenty of research, and of course, a hearty splash of creativity. Yet, every challenge overcome, every ethically made piece we crafted, made it all the more rewarding. Sourcing ethical materials, ensuring fair trade, and maintaining affordability – it’s all been a dance, each step laborious but satisfying. Tell us about your product offering. From gracefully ethical necklaces to elegantly sustainable necklaces, Île Kekere boasts a collection of pieces that I consider cater for all tastes and women in walks of life. For the minimalists, we have items in the Essentials Collections, simple lines and timeless classics. For a burst of colour, our beaded bracelets are nothing short of artwork. The Marpessa Collection for originality. Each piece is individually handmade by me when an order is placed to avoid obsolescence of stock, wastage, and excess storage. It also ensures uniqueness; each piece is special, different from the next as no two pieces are the same. I usually create three individual pieces of the same bracelet/necklace design with different gemstones to start off with. Each design reflects the charm of individuality and the magic of sustainability. What are your most popular products? Our chic clientele are entirely smitten with our Selene Bracelets. They seem to love the blend of sleek sophistication of the box chain and the burst of colour provided by the lab-made gemstones. It’s a beautiful piece and rivals high-end bracelets without breaking the bank. It is also a testament to our commitment to sustainability helping our clientele look good and feel good about their choices. Have any styles taken you by surprise with their popularity? The Chloe earrings. I didn’t expect them to take off as they have. They’re part of our Essentials Collection and so designed Elegantly
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