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HANDMADE BY US

GLASS BEADS

OUR STORY

JUNE 2017 - WHERE IT ALL KICKED OFF

Let's rewind to summer 2017. It all started with a spur-of-the-moment decision to run the London Marathon 2018 for ‘Save the Rhino International’. My sudden desire to conquer a 26-mile race was fueled by an eagerness to raise funds for African wildlife conservation. I was lucky to spend some time on safari in Kenya prior to this, it left a mark on my heart, and I was determined to make a difference for endangered species.

JANUARY 2018 - MAKING JEWELLERY FOR A GREAT CAUSE

Fast forward to winter 2018, and I decided to get creative. To fundraise for the marathon, I taught myself how to make basic beaded necklaces and anklets. Then I hopped on the app ‘Depop’ to sell these wonders and called my profile ‘Rhino Beads’. Within a few months I sold everything and my UK Depop ranking went to 158th on the bestseller charts.

APRIL 2018 - MARATHON VICTORY LAP

London Marathon day – it was a scorcher at 24 degrees! I ran my heart out, cried a bit, sweated a lot, and finally, I made it across that finish line, rewarded with the best drink of my life. Together we raised an incredible £2,100 for 'Save the Rhino,' contributing to a grand total of £130,000. Why stop here though? I thought 'Rhino Beads' could be built upon.

JANUARY 2019 - THE NAIROBI CONNECTION

A couple of years back before the marathon, I met Anne, a jewellery maven from Kenya. She had a team of talented women creating stunning pieces – from earrings to key rings, belts, and even dog collars. I called up Anne and proposed to showcase her handmade earrings with Rhimani. Anne agreed, and our Nairobi earring range came into existence.

For me it was an important platform to shine a light on the principles of fair trade. Find our more about Rhimani and fair here.

While Rhimani has evolved since then, and though we may not carry as extensive a collection as before, we proudly continue to showcase Anne's earrings. They remain an integral and cherished part of our story.

JUNE 2019 - DREAMS AND FESTIVALS

This summer was a game-changer. We launched our official website. Plus, we took a dive into the world of festival trading, including Glastonbury, Latitude, Boardmasters, Isle of Wight, and Wilderness. And to make it even more unforgettable, we got ourselves a 1969 VW Camper for this summer.

DECEMBER 2019 - GROWTH AND GIVING BACK

Come Christmas 2019, Rhimani was on a roll. We upgraded to a studio and welcomed our very first team member. This was a big moment because it also marked our first donation to wildlife conservation. We pledged to give 10% of our annual profits to the esteemed charity, Tusk.

APRIL 2020 - ADAPTING TO CHANGE

In the month the world turned upside down with the COVID-19 pandemic, we weren't about to let it stop us. We switched from our studio to individual workstations at home, determined to continue delivering colourful jewellery. During this period, we introduced 'Story Time,' a weekly event where we unveiled and offered our freshly crafted jewellery through Rhimani's Instagram Stories.

DECEMBER 2020 - A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

It was time to focus on sustainability. Rhimani bid farewell to plastic beads, embracing top-quality glass beads, a move that echoed our commitment to eco-friendly, durable jewellery making. We also started packaging our jewellery with recycled old magazines, an eco-conscious move we've stuck with ever since, and it's now a defining feature of our brand.

JANUARY 2023 - A PAUSE TO REFLECT

After a few happy years of trading, appearances in renowned publications such as Vogue and Harpaars Bazaar, having the pleasure of seeing celebrities like Fearne Cotton wearing our pieces, and substantial donations to Tusk, it was time for reflection. I paused Rhimani for a little bit and took a step back to gain insights, learn the ropes, and plan long-term for Rhimani.

OCTOBER 2023 - WE'RE BACK, BABY!

And now, we dive headfirst into 2023 as Rhimani resumes its journey, stronger and more determined than ever.

Our story began with a heartfelt commitment to wildlife conservation, and it's far from over.

This is our story, and it's never-ending twists and turns.

Love,

Izzy x