WARA DESIGNS

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS

• Germany (studio in Berlin-Kreuzberg)

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES

WARA DESIGNS produces exclusively in Germany, in its own studio in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Founder and silversmith Caroline Daoulas makes all the jewellery herself by hand. This complete in-house production means that there are no labour law risks, as no external employees are involved in the manufacturing process. The brand benefits from Germany’s high legal standards in terms of labour rights, safety and fair conditions. 

WARA DESIGNS works with very few suppliers, which reinforces the focus on local control and short distances. 

As Caroline runs the brand alone, she is also the designer, producer and contact person. Overall, WARA DESIGNS stands for transparent, handcrafted production with a very reduced supplier network and a strong focus on environmental awareness and timeless design.

MATERIALS

• Recycled silver (from France)
• Brass (remnants from Vietnam)
• Copper (remnants from Vietnam)
• Gold (occasionally used)
• Salt and vinegar (for natural patina reactions)
• Very small amount of ammonia

A significant amount of the materials currently used come from Vietnam, where the founder previously lived. 
WARA DESIGNS works with recycled and surplus metals. Find out more about more ethical silver and gold in our blog.

PACKAGING

WARA DESIGNS is focussing on more environmentally friendly packaging solutions in both e‑commerce and direct sales. The packaging comes from more sustainable suppliers and is made from more responsible materials and recyclable stickers. As the brand currently mainly sells directly or on an appointment basis, there is still little shipping packaging in the traditional sense. 

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS

̌The brand works with recycled metals such as silver and leftover brass and copper, which is fundamentally more resource-friendly than using newly extracted raw materials. 

Natural reactions with salt and vinegar are used for the characteristic patinas, which means that aggressive chemicals are not used. Dyes, printing or bleaching agents are not used in production. In addition, a hot process is used in which the heat of a burner is utilised. 
In future, a very small amount of ammonia will be used for patination. The expected consumption is around 10 millilitres over a period of five years.

Caroline Daoulas keeps the ecological footprint of her jewellery production as low as possible by manufacturing exclusively by hand in the studio and consciously selecting the materials.

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN

WARA DESIGNS manufactures its jewellery exclusively from mono-materials such as silver, brass and copper, which makes them fundamentally more recycling-friendly than mixed products made from different material groups. 

The brand uses recycled silver from France as well as leftover brass and copper. While this helps to conserve resources, it can limit the recyclability of individual pieces, especially pieces with artificially created patinas, as these are more difficult to recycle.

WARA DESIGNS offers repairs, which extends the life of the products. Due to the handcrafted individual production, many pieces are easy to maintain or repair. The jewellery usually consists of just a few components, which makes it easier to dismantle or refurbish at a later date. However, this only applies in the context of proper use: the designer expressly points out that the patina must be maintained. If this care is not observed, the original surface cannot be restored.

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODEL

WARA DESIGNS offers repairs for its jewellery. This option is openly communicated and is part of the brand’s more sustainable approach. All work is carried out directly by the founder in her own studio.

The focus is clearly on the individual production of durable products that can be repaired. Repairs are only possible within the scope of proper use. 

The focus is clearly on customised production of durable products.

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN

• Germany (own production in the studio in Berlin-Kreuzberg)
• France (source of supply for recycled silver)
• The WARA DESIGNS HQ is located in Berlin-Friedrichshain.

WARA DESIGNS has a very simple supply chain, as the entire production is carried out by Caroline Daoulas herself in her own studio and only a few materials are sourced externally.

TRANSPORTATION 

• Transportation in the supply chain:
  WARA DESIGNS sources its materials in small quantities from France (recycled silver) and presumably locally or regionally for brass and copper. Due to the reduced supply chain and low material volumes, the transport routes are very manageable. 
• Transport in E‑Commerce:
  WARA DESIGNS currently sells mainly on site on an appointment basis. 

• Recycled leather

The designer uses small quantities of recycled leather for a few designs.

PRODUCT DESIGN

WARA DESIGNS offers timeless jewellery for adults. The collections are aimed at people who appreciate handmade, individual jewellery with artistic expression and cultural influence. 

As most pieces of jewellery are handmade, it can be assumed that individual customisation is possible. The style is gender-neutral with a focus on geometric shapes, material structure and unique character. In terms of communication and presentation, the focus is on design and craftsmanship.

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES

WARA DESIGNS works with an existing collection that is gradually supplemented with new designs. The brand does not follow seasonal fashion trends and does not publish classic collections several times a year. Instead, the jewellery is created individually and at its own pace.

The individual pieces are unique and can be customised, which indicates a made-to-order principle. Minor adjustments are possible as part of the handcrafted production process.

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT

The WARA DESIGNS product pages contain basic information on each piece of jewellery, such as material specifications, dimensions and information on hand production. It is emphasised that each piece is unique and varies individually in colour and structure due to natural reactions – such as patina on copper. Additional information on care is provided.

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESS

It is communicated that production takes place in the company’s own studio in Berlin-Kreuzberg and that the silver used comes from France. However, this information can only be found on general pages of the website – not product-specific.