Sustainable Fashion Spotlight: An Interview with the Founder behind Rize Jewellery

The world of sustainable fashion is full of inspiring stories of brands that combine ethics, aesthetics, craftsmanship, and social impact. A shining example of this is Rize.

Literally, because the brand creates stunning jewellery in an ethical way. The jewellery brand was founded with a deep commitment to supporting skillful artisans and giving back.

As part of our Sustainable Fashion Spotlight, we spoke with Jane Reddyhoff, the founder of Rize, to learn more about her journey, challenges, and the impact she hopes to make.

Why did you start Rize Jewellery?

Jane: I have always enjoyed being creative and have a fashion background. In 2015, I lived in India for 5 years with my family and volunteered with two children’s charities. I tried to raise as much money as I could and when I left India, vowed I would continue to help as much as possible.

Knowing the rich history of jewellery making in India, I decided I wanted to start a jewellery brand. I went back to India and trawled the streets of Jaipur (India’s jewellery making city) with my then 9 year old son, meeting jewellers.

Eventually, I found the artisan group I work with today. They are a group of 5 highly skilled, but marginalised artisans who are members of Fair Trade India and the World Fair Trade Organisation. I design each piece of jewellery and they hand make everything in their studio.

As well as working with Fair Trade artisans, I give 10% of each sale to my two children’s charities, who I visit every year.

What did you underestimate about starting your own jewellery brand?

Launching an ethical jewellery brand came with its fair share of challenges.
Jane: “When it’s just you, you have to wear so many hats. From designing and sourcing to managing logistics, marketing, and finances, starting a business requires constant adaptation.”

One of the biggest lessons she learned was the importance of resilience:
“When things don’t go as planned, you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and carry on. It’s also essential to stop and celebrate the wins, no matter how small, because there will always be another situation that needs figuring out around the corner.”

With Rize coming out of her personal desire, Jane also mentions how important it is to distance yourself and think objectively about the brand you’re building:
“Learning to step back and analyze the brand with a clear perspective is key, especially when you started it out of passion”.

What did you find the hardest part about launching your brand?

Jane: The most challenging part of launching Rize was finding skilled, reliable, and transparent artisans to work with in India.

“I literally had to walk the streets of Jaipur, knocking on doors. And as a foreigner, I was never sure if I was being quoted fairly,” she recalls.

Ensuring that her jewellery was crafted under ethical working conditions was non-negotiable, but verifying these standards took persistence.

“Some jewellers wouldn’t let me see their workshops. A big red flag.” she explains. Eventually, she found her current artisan group, who were not only transparent about their process but also Fair Trade certified.

Beyond production, working across continents added another layer of complexity. The language barrier and physical distance often led to communication challenges:
“I have a colleague in Jaipur who translates my design ideas, but there have been so many moments where I wished I could just be in the same room with them.”

On top of this, the timing of Rize’s launch was far from ideal: just as she was about to get started, the pandemic hit, delaying everything until 2021.

And even now, import duties on jewellery shipments to the UK remain a significant cost, making pricing and logistics a constant balancing act.

What are your proudest moments?

Despite the hurdles, Rize has had some incredible highlights along the way.

“One of my first big moments was when Vogue UK discovered me on Instagram and asked me to be featured in the magazine,” Jane shares.

At that time, she was selling vintage jewellery from Jaipur while working on her first collection, making the recognition even more special."

But nothing compared to seeing her designs come to life for the first time.

“The moment I opened the box with my first collection, it was surreal. I had dreamed about it for so long.”

Another unforgettable moment? A photoshoot at Amer Fort in Jaipur, a location Jane had envisioned from the very beginning.

“It was a dream come true: the perfect backdrop, an incredible team, and a collection that looked even better than I had imagined.”

What are your future plans for Rize?

Jane: “I have just started designing our third collection and plan to visit India for another shoot towards the end of the year.

We are about to launch on our 5th fashion platform and I’m in discussions with a couple of great designers regarding collaborations. I am also working towards applying to be a BCorp member, which is an important goal for me.”

Thankfully I feel fashion and accessory buyers are becoming more aware of the need to buy more consciously and this in turn is making more and more brands, big and small, make sustainability a priority.”

With all the macroeconomic uncertainty now, do you face any challenges in setting up these international collaborations?

Jane: “For now, I have my supply chain set up, but I will be looking to work with other groups in the future, possibly in other areas of fashion.

As I mentioned, I already have quite high costs because of import duties and I currently only work with sterling silver, gold vermeil/plating and gemstones, which are all quite costly.

I work with these materials because I want to create jewellery that lasts, even handed down to family members as an heirloom. It is also part of being a sustainable brand, wanting customers to wear and keep their jewellery for as long as possible.”

When we ask Jane if she has a favourite item of Rize, she tells us the beautiful stories where she got the inspiration for her designs from, about mangoes and monsoons.

Jane: “My Sweet Mango Charm Necklace is a favourite, I designed it as I have such fond memories of mango season in India. For a couple of months all you see on the streets are piles of the most delicious mangoes. It is one of my best sellers.

Another piece that is popular is my Monsoon Clouds & Rain Charm. It is an ode to the auspicious Monsoon season, but I remember at the time of designing it thinking, “will people want to wear a rain cloud?!”. I think people like it as it represents a time of renewal and revival, but I have also been told people feel it represents getting through stormy times.

I also like the granulated Ashram Window Earrings, the craftsmanship involved in accurately placing so many tiny balls of pure silver, literally takes hours to create.”

Besides shopping, what is the best way for people to support your brand at this moment?

While every purchase helps sustain Rize’s mission, spreading the word is just as valuable.

“I’m always touched when customers or other small business owners give a ‘shout out’ about my brand. When people help Rize be seen, they’re also helping me shine a light on Fair Trade artisans and the children’s charities we support.”

Jane makes a point to give back the same energy: supporting fellow ethical brands and sharing the message of conscious fashion whenever she can.

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