Each week, the Gazette takes to the streets to unearth something being manufactured right here in Hackney. This week we speak to Emma Ware who tries to use recycled materials to make her jewellery.
Emma Ware started making her jewellery out of bicycle inner tubes seven years ago, when she was bored with her job as a film technician and needed a creative outlet.
The 38-year-old, who studied fine art, now works out of a studio in Stour Space, Hackney Wick. And her striking necklaces, rings and body pieces are sold in shops all over the world.
“I started playing around with materials, and the rubber thing just popped out and people quite liked it,” she said. “It doesn’t look like an inner tube, but I just apply a process to it and see what happens. If I cut the strips into pieces things come out I couldn’t possibly conceive off the cuff.”
She has now moved on to use recycled silver and vegetable tanned leather.
“I felt like I did as much as I could with the rubber and was frustrated with the texture. I wanted something a bit more rigid to hold its shape. Generally everything I do, I try to recycle or pick the least damaging option.”
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