A Sustainable Jewelry Brand: Runda Jewelry

How does being a sustainable brand in the jewelry institute differentiate you?

The relationship between the jewelry industry and the concept of sustainability may not be obvious at first glance, but of course, when we look at the details of the work, we can see that it is very important. We can say that the biggest point that separates us is that we keep “nature” at the center of our philosophy. We strive to raise awareness in respect to nature and life as much as possible in all processes, from the individual design stories of the pieces in our collections until the products reach our customers.

At what point do you see our country in terms of sustainability?

For someone who thinks about the future of the world and life today, the concept of sustainability is perhaps the most important issue. Because there are serious questions about how long the exponentially growing consumption culture can be sustained after the Industrial Revolution. We need to solve very serious problems such as the damage we cause to nature and unjust working conditions. Regarding this issue, we think that our country has an average level of consciousness. In this respect, we would be very happy to be able to reach the level of countries such as Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Japan, Denmark and Germany.

Nature is part of Runda. What is the place of nature in your personal life?

As someone whose business life is in cities, nature is a space for me where I can get away from everything for a short while, maybe even get closer to myself. It is really good to take nature walks whenever you find time. I think that walking in nature enriches the human spirit and I recommend it to everyone.

You work with precious stones. What are the precious stones in your life?

My most important gems in my life, of course, are my family. They are invaluable treasures to me. The special moments we spent together, the travels we made together, and the warm atmosphere are the most precious jewels for me. The love and support of my family, the memories we create, and their trust in me are an invaluable treasure.

What’s your favorite Runda jewelry lately?

We used natural pearls in our latest Elegance collection. In this collection, I can say “Theia” earrings, which contain both diamonds and natural pearls.

How would you describe Runda jewels in three words?

Sustainable, aesthetic, meaningful.

What emotions does deal with jewelry evoke in you?

Dealing with jewels reminds me of the magic of forms. It allows me to think more deeply about the meaning of the concepts of aesthetics and beauty. I actually think that jewelry can somehow reflect all emotions. For example, the feelings of a pendant produced using an elegant leaf form and another design in which blunt and thicker forms are preferred, a model designed with inspiration from the wood form will be very different. Therefore, we can say that it evokes many emotions depending on the concept and collection.

You prepared the “Into the Woods” collection with Erdem Akan. How did you come together?

Erdem Akan is an experienced designer who does great work in many different fields apart from the jewelry and jewelry industry. It has a design approach that is compatible with the philosophy and line of the relatively young Runda brand. The idea of making a collection that can best describe the brand from his own perspective has developed quite excitingly for both parties. Erdem Akan’s approach to environmental awareness and sustainability issues was also influential for Runda, in addition to being an experienced designer. It would not have been possible for the collection to emerge from such a meaningful and dense story bar in any other way.

What inspires the collection?

The inspiration for the collection was created by our precious designer’s focus on the textures of nature during nature walks that allow us to breathe in our busy city lives. To put it in his own words: “Beyond colours, forms and textures in nature have always intrigued me. While preparing the collection, the idea of bringing these forms and textures closer to the human body drove me. In this way, I wanted to re-establish a bond between nature and people, especially city people. I can say that this main idea in the background shaped the collection and the details throughout the process.”

Your work is with timeless precious stones, how are you with time?

I try to spend my time as efficiently as possible. I always take care to be balanced when it comes to my work, family, friends and myself. Time management is a very important issue today, we may not always have time for something. I think maybe we should devote more time to what is important to us rather than waiting for you to have time to do it. Time works the same for everyone, it’s just up to us how we use it.