Fair Trade Jewellery Co.

Founded in 2006, the Fair Trade Jewellery Co. is a Toronto-based, ground-breaking store in the jewelry business that provides exclusively ethically sourced materials and sustainable supplies. It was co-founded by Robin Gambhir and Ryan Taylor, who initially envisioned FTJCo as a wholesale provider of responsibly sourced gold. Realizing the growing demand for ethical jewelry, the founders decided to try another tack; they opened their first retail location in 2008 in the historic Cabbagetown neighborhood. By visiting this store, clients could buy not only fine jewelry but also see how such pieces were made, since the studio was situated right at the back of the store.

FTJCo has gone one step ahead in responsible sourcing, even leading this industry in some of the most innovative projects, such as the 'Just Gold' program. In collaboration with the NGO IMPACT and its sister company, Consensas, FTJCo was the first in 2017 to legally import conflict-free gold from the Democratic Republic of Congo into North America legally. This effort came together to create the '50/50 FTJCo Blend, a unique alloy made of half Congolese Just Gold and half certified recycled gold. Today, the company's signature AKARA gold blend incorporates certified recycled gold and Fairmined gold from Colombia—a combination of environmental sustainability and supporting small-scale miners.

In 2013, FTJCo became a certified Benefit Corporation; since then, the brand has continued to prove its commitment to ethical and social matters. In 2021, FTJCo became the very first to partner with SCS Global Services in order to offer certification for Climate Neutral Diamonds. This is a major move towards the company's big dream of full climate-neutral jewelry.

Further growth and changes in need soon saw the company relocating in early 2022 to a newly renovated heritage building at 576 Parliament St., just a short walk from its original storefront on Parliament St. The new space boasts a transparent design: customers can view the goldsmiths behind a large glass wall, which reflects FTJCo's core value of transparency in the production process.

The work of FTJCo is also being recognized across national borders; the company's lead designer, Kathleen Kerr, was presented with the Gem DIVA Award for Bridal Wear by the American Gem Trade Association Spectrum Awards in 2020. This is a clear expression of the skill and artistry with which FTJCo goldsmiths work, so bespoke pieces would continue to stay true to the brand ethos around integrity and fine craftsmanship.

Today, FTJCo, as an employee-owned company, subscribes to one vision of success through its Employee Share Ownership Programme, or ESOP, which gives its staff even more economic agency and a stronger voice in the most critical business decisions. With its revitalized brand identity and tagline "Fine Jewellery with Integrity," FTJCo stays true at the forefront of ethical jewelry-making for clients that create not just beautiful items but responsible sourcing and sustainability-led practice.