Ok I know this is another one from my Japan trip, but seriously how can you not love them? Nozomi Project jewellery is truly unique and stunning, and they just celebrated their fifth birthday!

Neighbour (conceptually and literally) to Megumi Project, Nozomi Project is based right next to Onagawa in Ishinomaki. The tsunami hit Ishinomaki hard, and as part of the relief effort Nozomi founder Sue Takamoto found hundreds of pottery shards from items that had been broken by the waves. The idea to create something beautiful from these shards stuck in Sue’s mind. With time, a gathering of local women and some lessons on making jewellery, Nozomi Project was born. They started paying staff in October 2012, made their first sales in November/December 2012, and haven’t looked back since.

Nozomi Project’s motto is ‘beauty from brokenness’, and these days they use broken pottery that is donated to them from all across Japan. Their collection includes necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, pendants, magnets, bookmarks and individual charms, which is a heck of a lot! On top of that they also have a custom section, so if you have pottery or ceramics that are still loved but broken, Nozomi can repurpose them into whatever you choose. You can read about the process and how they do this in more depth here. And in addition to jewellery, they have a beautiful Christmas ornament section, which I LOVE.

Like Megumi, I visited Nozomi Project in person and had an incredible time meeting everyone involved in the business. They truly love the work they do, and they are constantly working to be more creative and innovative in their approach to making beautiful products from upcycled materials. Each piece from Nozomi is unique and stunning, whilst also carrying a beautiful story of empowerment and hope. They’re the perfect place to seek perfect special gifts for those you love, you won’t find anything else quite like their pieces.

Until tomorrow, stay magic y’all.