CARLA SHAW Sustainable Fashion

CARLA SHAW Sustainable Fashion makes botanical jewelry from real leaves and flowers preserved in precious metal. Each plant is harvested by hand, dehydrated and coated in 18-karat gold, or in silver and rhodium, producing earrings, necklaces, hoops and other pieces that keep the shape of the original leaf or bloom. Every piece is one of a kind, and the line includes accessories alongside its jewelry.

Founder Carla Shaw was born in Brazil, home to a rich tropical flora, and long wanted to be an advocate for nature preservation. When artisans who preserve plants in gold approached her, she launched the brand in July 2021, in the middle of the pandemic. Carla Wahnon by birth, she uses her husband Bill’s last name for the business. The jewelry is handcrafted in small batches using responsible sourcing practices.

What to Know

• The collection contains no animal by-products; some pieces use vegetable-based suede or natural cotton cords.
• The gold coating is hypoallergenic.
• Pieces ship free within the U.S. in gift-ready packaging.
• The business is women-owned, immigrant-owned and BIPOC-owned, with a shop in Newton.
• It has been featured on Boston’s Channel 5 Chronicle and CBS News Boston.