Uncommon Jewelry
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efore the days of unbridled Internet shopping (high schoolers and college kids have it good these days), I looked forward to visiting my Aunt Linda. She always had a stack of the best catalogs to pour over: Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and, of course, UncommonGoods.Founded in 1999, UncommonGoods was a mission-driven company before Toms and Warby Parker made it a popular business venture. The company was founded with the mission to provide “unique designs and handcrafted gifts created in harmony with the environment without harm to animals or people.” Most of the available products are made in the U.S., half are made by hand, and a third incorporate recycled or upcycled materials. And now that e-commerce has made made significant leaps since the late ’90s, it’s even easier to find a unique, unexpected gift for yourself or others.
The jewelry on UncommonGoods stays true to the retailer’s roots with personalized items and handmade pieces you can’t find just anywhere. I’m most drawn to the astrology lockets handcrafted by artist Julie Nolan. A series of dots create constellations to subtly share your sign.
If you’re on the lookout for gift-giving ideas and the woman in your life isn’t won over by jewelry, UncommonGoods carries plenty of alternatives. Try a perfectly preserved dandelion poof paperweight for the romantic, the cutest baby booties for the mom-to-be, embroidered state pillows for the traveler, or dish towels with a convenient wine pairing cheat sheet for the gourmand. Take a peek at the full lineup here.
