The Value of What We Treasure
An afternoon on the meaning of jewelry, during Dutch Sustainable Fashion Week.
When is a piece of jewelry truly valuable? Is it the worth of the gold or the gemstone? The name of the brand? Or the story you carry with you?
At the launch of the TREMOR collection at Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam, during Dutch Sustainable Fashion Week, we looked for an answer from four perspectives. Together with architect Vincent van der Meulen, jewelry expert Renée Haakman and sustainable storytelling expert Talitha Kalloe, we explored what value means in a world where raw materials are becoming scarcer and the impact of our choices is ever more visible.
More than material value
A piece of jewelry can hold a memory, connect generations and tell a story that goes far beyond the material itself. That became clear the moment we each shared a jewel that is precious to us. Mine is a small chain made by my grandfather, who was also a goldsmith, for all the women in our family.
Vincent brought the perspective of architecture and reuse. He showed how the origin and history of a material can give an object new meaning.
“It doesn’t have to be expressed in money, but it does become more valuable.”
— Vincent van der Meulen
Knowing where it comes from
Renée Haakman stressed the importance of transparency and traceability in the jewelry industry. Knowing where materials come from, and under what conditions they were extracted, is essential to understanding the true impact of a product.
She also spoke of a future in which luxury is no longer about a brand name or a price tag, but about the quality, origin and responsibility behind a piece.
“I hope we will increasingly see luxury in beautifully made jewelry from traceable, sustainable materials, something you pass on with pride.”
— Renée Haakman
A different relationship with ownership
Talitha Kalloe invited us to look critically at how we assign value. Why are certain materials or brands worth more than others? And why have we grown so used to owning and producing more and more?
For her, a different way of consuming begins with the relationship we have with our things. By caring for something, repairing it and cherishing it, we give it a meaning that money cannot express.
“It’s no longer about having as much as possible, but about your relationship with what you wear or own.”
— Talitha Kalloe
What do we give back?
For me, this question lies at the heart of Studio IRIS. I believe the story of our time should be about our relationship with the world that carries us, and how we can help it recover.
That is why I design jewelry inspired by nature, work with recycled precious metals, and explore how my work can contribute to nature restoration. Not because sustainability should be added to luxury, but because the two are inseparable.
“The luxury industry has not only the means but also the responsibility to make a positive impact. What can you, as a brand, truly give back?”
— Iris van der Weijde, Studio IRIS
A new meaning of luxury
The afternoon ended with a question: what do we hope luxury will mean in twenty years?
Perhaps the answer is simpler than we think. Luxury is something made with care. Something whose origin you know. Something that carries personal meaning and lasts for generations. And something that not only adds to your own life, but gives something back to the world.
Thank you to Vincent, Renée and Talitha for their openness and insight, and to everyone who joined us and took part in this conversation.
Choose to treasure.
