We’re always searching for ethical jewelry brands that dedicate themselves to thoughtful sourcing, fair wages, and give-back initiatives that truly have an impact. Whether it’s a thoughtful addition to our own wardrobe, or a sustainable gift our loved ones, jewelry is an accessory that we can (and do) cherish for a lifetime.
So, we’ve found one of our favorite jewelry brands that pair their values with a dedication to quality and style. Whether it’s sustainably ending cycles of poverty through employment, upholding traditional craft techniques, or sourcing fair-mined gold and other materials, Amanda Pearl is a brand that matches your values.
Sustainable luxury accessories brand
New York-based Amanda Pearl Brotman is the founder and designer of AMANDA PEARL, a sustainable luxury accessories brand whose aesthetic is a study in dualities, creating a truly modern sensibility and approach to fashion.
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Amanda’s childhood was both full of culture and the arts, and the freedom to explore the wild outdoors. Twelve years studying and performing with Pacific Northwest Ballet instilled an unerring discipline and sharp attention to aesthetic detail, which was tempered by her ceaseless curiosity about the natural world.
Constantly pushing boundaries, Amanda left for NYC where she received a degree in Art History and Visual Arts from Barnard College. After a tenure at Marc Jacobs, in the technical design and production departments, Amanda brought her experience to Erin Fetherston’s womenswear label, where she was Collection Director, before decamping to launch AMANDA PEARL.
Amanda is settled in NYC with her husband and boys, but still considers the Pacific Northwest ‘home’ – drawing upon its stunning natural beauty and innovative spirit as inspiration for her work.
Amanda won the Fashion Group International Rising Star Award for her handbag designs and was most recently a finalist in the fine jewelry category.
What inspired you to start AMANDA PEARL?
Entrepreneurship in a creative field always seemed pre-destined for me. Since I was a kid, I was always making things and trying to sell them. I figured it was inevitable that I’d have a fashion company of my own, but I didn’t know exactly what my product would be. After graduating college while I was looking for a job, I began making and selling small evening bags out of vintage fabrics and beads I’d collected. However, I knew I needed to get some real experience before really launching my own thing. After a number of years working for Marc Jacobs and learning how it all worked, I finally made the jump to launch AMANDA PEARL. It was a great time for my product, as the only name in the clutch game was Judith Leiber.
Tell us about your design style. What makes your collections unique in the industry?
The collections are inspired by my aesthetic and cultural influences from growing up in the Pacific Northwest (although I’ve lived in NYC for 20 [gulp] years, Seattle will always be home). From natural elements found while exploring the wild outdoors, to the fierce and feminine fluidity from my years studying and performing with the ballet… coming of age in the hotbed of ‘90s “grunge”, in the tech nerdy city that is a center for innovation, where nature, sustainability, and “doing the right thing” are just how we roll. What results is an aesthetic that is a study in dualities – a truly modern sensibility and approach to jewelry and adornment.
Besides the uniqueness of the designs, AMANDA PEARL stands out because we are a small, women-run, New York City-based accessories company making sustainable and ethically sourced jewelry locally. We stand out most especially because we have rebelled against the traditional retail model, cutting out the middleman and traditional 10x markup, bringing luxury accessories directly to the consumer at real, fair prices. (Read: we don’t offer discounts because we don’t inflate our costing to allow for them.) We offer the best prices every day of the year – with a 10% give-back to a different cause each quarter.
What kind of person wears your jewelry?
Our customer is a conscious consumer who is excited to be buying items that are not mass-produced, found in every department store, and widely worn. They look for designs that have a point of view and a story, that are ethically made by human-run businesses that operate in line with their beliefs. They spend their money on items that they have discovered, that are meaningful to them, curating their own style without the help of a sponsored ad. Our customer aims to buy fewer things, with more meaning.
As a designer, where do you draw your inspiration from?
Nature. I’m endlessly inspired by nature. Whether it’s the quill of a sea urchin, the colors of a stark desert landscape, or the concept of the power of a wave, I will never tire of looking to nature to inform and inspire.
What are the upcoming trends in the jewelry design industry?
I’m really excited about ethical, unmined diamonds, and that people are embracing them. They have the same optical, chemical, thermal, and physical features, and are completely unique, as mined stones are, yet don’t have the same environmental and social impact of mining. I am thrilled to be able to include them in our collections and help educate our customers about the power of their conscious consumerism.
Managing everything, how do you stay sane and happy?
Sigh… I perpetually feel on the brink. (Kidding! Sort of…) I definitely try to eke out some quiet time. Some alone time. That’s way easier said than done these days, but it’s of paramount importance to my personal regulation. I try to eat well, sleep well, exercise and meditate. And make time to get out and do things that make my heart sing – whether it’s seeing a favorite band with a friend, going to a museum exhibition, or finding some nature to sit in.
If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career what would it be?
Trust your gut. That b*tch knows what’s up.
If you had an extra 6 hours in your day, what would you do?
OMG, this is my absolute fantasy. I know this is the wrong answer, but I would get a little more done at work (1 hour). I would sleep more (1 hour). I would put more time into meditation, exercise, and stretching (1 hour). I would read more (1 hour). I would take more time to create (1 hour). Oops, I should probably spend a little more time with my husband and children as well, but you get the idea…
Do you believe in destiny or do you think you can control your fate?
I think certain things might be predestined, but that we have free will and therefore a lot of control in between those signposts.
Tell us about your proudest achievement?
What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
My failures have generally all been in regard to two things:
1) Not heeding why my gut was saying.
2) Feeling shy about self-promotion or asking for things.
Both come down to a certain level of confidence that was lacking in my earlier years of building this business. I think I felt like I needed to stay within the well-worn lines for how things were done, heeding to perceived power hierarchies between press or buyers and new designers. I was very much aware of my place as a “nobody” new designer who was making it up as she went along on a shoestring, and was much too quiet about what I was doing. What I wish I had realized earlier on is that we’re all just people fulfilling our place in the fashion ecosystem and that you really can “fake it until you make it”. Pretending that I belonged and that everyone should pay attention to me would’ve likely gone a long way!
Along similar lines, I didn’t listen to my gut as much as I should have when it came to positioning in the market and making shifts in my business away from how everyone else was doing things. Don’t get me wrong – I could hear what my gut was saying, and behind closed doors, I’d be so sure of myself, but when it came to doing anything about it in an outward-facing way, I felt too small to be able to successfully make those moves. I felt like I had to fit into how the market and industry were moving in order to get ahead.
But, I learned. I adapted. I grew. And now I’m fully confident in my voice, outlook, and ability to make moves in this business.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
Join the discussion!