Social Responsibility
In 2006, during my time as a young student at New York University Tandon School of Engineering (formerly known as Polytechnic University, with its name changed in 2008), I had a moment of serendipity. While taking a break, I decided to hop on the subway to Rockefeller Center and take a seat after a long stroll. Fate led me to strike up a conversation with a fellow from London who happened to sit beside me. To my surprise, we discovered a commonality – both of us had roommates from London. As we chatted, my attention was drawn to a captivating silver chain adorning his neck. Its beauty intrigued me, prompting me to inquire about its cost.
The young man revealed that this silver chain was a gift from his grandmother, one that had set her back several hundred pounds, equivalent to a fifth of her pension. He cherished this heirloom, wearing it throughout his life, with plans to pass it down to his son. I couldn't help but admire the deep emotional connection he had with his grandmother's precious gift, and equally, the profound love she had for her grandson.
However, I couldn't help but ponder the cost of this silver chain – a fifth of one's pension seemed exorbitant. At that moment, in 2006, I wished I could do something to make such premium, handcrafted silver chains accessible to grandmothers and fathers, or anyone with a modest incomes. These pieces of jewelry should be cherished for a lifetime and even handed down to generations, without depleting one's savings. This was the spark that ignited the journey of Lava Jewelry, which began in 2019.