Gaia Sustainable Solutions Blog

Gaia Couture’s underlying philosophy is to integrate sustainability with everyday elegance through our handmade, contemporary and unique jewellery pieces. The jewellery is inspired by nature – the colours, textures, shapes and motifs are all inspired by the beautiful natural environment. I am blessed to live in the Caribbean where there is so much natural beauty around me and this inspires the jewellery. Our first collection is entitled 'Reef Rhapsody' and is inspired by the beautiful, delicate and resilient coral reef. Coral reefs are found in more than 100 countries around the world in tropic and subtropic oceans. Trinidad and Tobago also have coral reefs, the largest and most popular being Buccoo Reef in Tobago. Coral reefs support Tobago’s two main economic activities - tourism and fishing through enabling both jobs and food. They also protect the coastline from the damaging effects of ocean swells and tropical storms. They provide a habitat and shelter for many marine spec...

DATA IS KING BUT COMMUNICATION IS KEY. This was one of the key themes that consistently emerged over the past few days at the International Climate Change Conference, hosted by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre ( CCCCC ) which was held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago from October 9 to 12, 2017. Over the past four days researchers, scientists, policy-makers and key stakeholders across the Caribbean discussed key issues ranging from current climate change research, climate actions and policy and climate finance. Relevant and highly useful climate information is being generated by various institutions across the Caribbean countries from scientific analysis and modelling of water availability or tropical storm paths to livelihood vulnerability assessments. This international conference served as an important forum to communicate results and lessons learned as well as recommend future synergies and applications of this climate information with Caribbean stakehol...

“To deny climate change is to procrastinate while the earth sinks; it is to deny a truth we have just lived. It is to mock thousands of my compatriots who in a few hours without a roof over their heads will watch the night descend on Dominica, in fear of sudden mudslides . . . and what the next hurricane may bring. My fellow-leaders, there is no more time for conversation. There is little time left for action. While the big countries talk, the small island nations suffer. We need action and we need it now.” The Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2017 Hurricane Maria The hurricane season in the North Atlantic Basin starts on June 1 and ends on November 30 each year. A week before the official start of the hurricane season the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a forecast which predicted an 'above average' hurricane season for 2017 . This foreca...

We did our first artisan market last Saturday - at the popular Things TT market in UWI St Augustine. My mom is my ever supportive assistant and I think we made a good team. It was an enjoyable experience for us and a learning one too. We made new friends, connected with old friends, networked and built partnerships, talked about our jewellery, engaged people on sustainability and environmental management AND made our first sales. The interest in Gaia Couture, what we do  was very positive. I am very inspired by this to continue to create unique jewellery that incorporates elements of sustainability through the materials we use, the inspiration, the designs or the environmental awareness raising activities. Lots of new ideas, projects and developments are in the pipeline and you'll find out more about them in the coming weeks and months. Stay tuned! In the meantime, if you are interested in any jewellery pieces you can message / email to find out more or visit us at...

My name is Sasha Jattansingh and I am the Owner and Designer at Gaia Couture.   I have been learning and making jewellery for over 5 years – beaded, wire wrapping, metal smithing, natural jewellery etc. I especially love that jewellery is beautiful and functional at the same time. I think one of the best compliments for a designer is when someone buys and wears your design and incorporates it into their own personal style.   I finally decided to just be brave and launch my own line of handmade jewellery.        In my other life, I am an environmental management and sustainable development practitioner with over 8 years’ experience in Trinidad and Tobago.  I definitely wanted to merge my two passions of environmental sustainability and jewellery making and that is how Gaia Couture evolved into what it is now.   I get asked why the name Gaia Couture? Gaia is a play on my middle name Gaitri and the ancient Greek goddess of the Earth and Couture...

Welcome to our blog at Gaia Couture! We are a modern jewellery studio in Trinidad and Tobago. We create contemporary, handmade, unique or limited edition designs which strive to integrate aesthetics, functionality and sustainability through the use of a wide range of materials including PET bottles, seeds, discarded paper, leather, metal and semi-precious stones.  Gaia Couture’s underlying philosophy is to integrate sustainability with everyday elegance through our handmade jewellery pieces. We hope that this blog will enable a dialogue with our audience to share knowledge, ideas and practices about sustainability and environmental management through our jewellery.  Connect with Gaia Couture on Facebook , Instagram or via email at gaiacouture.tt@gmail.com and we look forward to more great things to come for Gaia Couture!