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An Interview with Jewelry Designer Temple St. Clair

Inspiring Ocean Conservation One Jewel At A Time

There is luxury in preserving our natural resources. We do not need to own or wear these resources to enjoy and appreciate them. —Temple St. Clair

Independent jeweler Temple St. Clair has joined SeaWeb's Too Precious To Wear campaign as a spokesperson to raise awareness about the use of coral in the jewelry industry. St. Clair has been an ocean advocate since childhood and brings the same ethic and inspiration to her jewelry.

SeaWeb spoke with St. Clair to discuss her love for the ocean and how she hopes to inspire others to care for and protect it as much as she does.

SeaWeb: When did you first feel an affinity for the ocean?

Temple St. Clair: My affinity for the ocean was nurtured from a very young age. As soon as I could swim, my father took me snorkeling in tropical waters. I was certified to scuba dive at 14 [years old] and continued exploring the depths with a strong interest in underwater photography. In my late teens, I participated in Project Ocean Search in Antigua and in Honduras with Jean-Michel Cousteau. All my life, I have continued to have a passion for marine life and am inspired in my art to represent marine forms and colors.

St. Clair's passion for ocean conservation began with her first snorkeling and scuba diving experiences. She was scuba certified at age 14. Temple St. Clair

SW: Do you have a particular ocean hero who inspired you?

St. Clair: I grew up on "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau." Jacques Cousteau's work ignited my love for the sea.

My current ocean hero is Ric O'Barry, who is fighting the tough battle to end dolphin slaughter in Japan and to bring public awareness to the state of marine mammals held in captivity in such organizations as Sea World.

SW: Tell us a little about your business. How did you become involved in the jewelry industry, and what drives your sustainability commitments?

St. Clair: I came to jewelry through a love of art and art history. I have strong convictions with regards to quality of materials and craftsmanship. These convictions include being conscious and responsible with regard to the world and the environment. No one lives in a bubble; each individual's actions impact our world and society.

As part of the jewelry industry, it is essential to us at Temple St. Clair that we pay the utmost attention to the sourcing of our labor and materials, whether they are gold, diamonds, colored gemstones or coral. We use recycled gold whenever possible and make sure all our metal is responsibly sourced. Our diamonds are sourced under the provisions of the Kimberly Agreement that assures conflict-free stones. When it comes to coral, coral is an animal and we do not use animal materials in our jewelry.

Integrity with regard to how we use human and natural resources is what drives our sustainability commitments at Temple St. Clair. We feel we have no right to work in any other way.

SW: Why did you become involved in SeaWeb's Too Precious to Wear campaign?

St. Clair: I was introduced to SeaWeb's Too Precious to Wear campaign by activist, videographer and granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau, Céline Cousteau. In my book, "Alchemy," I have previously stated that I would never use real coral in my creations. I have an understanding and passion for the marine environment that makes the Too Precious to Wear campaign a natural fit.

SW: You have spent a great deal of time in Italy, the historical and cultural home of the red coral trade. What do you think needs to be done for the industry to be more involved in the conservation of red coral?

St. Clair: The artisanal trades of Italy are slowly facing extinction themselves. If the artisan industries continue to persist in using materials that are threatened, their livelihoods will disappear just that much more quickly.

I believe that the Italian coral industry needs to embrace its talents and its heritage and love of coral to translate it into a sustainable future. The Italians are too innovative to not be able to find a way to represent the beauty of coral in other materials.

The Italian industry needs to be more forward thinking so that they don't get left behind. Red and pink coral will gain the protection needed as more and more communications are released. The general public will be more informed and the demand for real coral will be diminished. The Italians have only to adjust their creativity and their focus with the times and create a way in new sustainable materials to celebrate coral.

SW: One of your themes is "Live life beautifully." Do you feel a "beautiful life" includes stewardship of the ocean? What can your peers (designers and jewelers) do to preserve corals and the ocean?

St. Clair gains inspiration from the ocean for her jewelry designs, including this sea star rock crystal amulet. Temple St. Clair

St. Clair: My tagline and theme, "Live life beautifully," comes from the idea that luxury is not synonymous with high cost. Luxury can be found in the simple pleasures of enjoying natural beauty, home and family, a slow meal with friends or fresh produce from a garden. There is luxury in preserving our natural resources. We do not need to own or wear these resources to enjoy and appreciate them.

I believe that style makers and designers can make a statement by not using unsustainable materials. We can show our respect for the natural world by making conscious sourcing choices. Designers should be informed about their materials.

Coral is an animal; it is at the foundation of the ocean's ecosystem. The precious red and pink corals are not sustainable. As designers, we show our collections and have the unique opportunity to communicate directly to our clients to help inform them of the impact of our choices and their choices. "It takes a village." We live in the information age, when we can post the reasons for our choices and disseminate information to our colleagues and clients. As Ric O'Barry, one of my marine heroes says, "You are either an activist or a non-activist." I say, "Be active!"

SW: Countries are currently considering increased protection for red and pink coral under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species meeting in Doha. Why do you support this protection measure for red and pink coral?

St. Clair: I absolutely support increased protection for red and pink corals. The upcoming vote on the Appendix II protection for these corals under CITES does not ban the use of coral but will regulate its trade so that it is not overfished. It is necessary that this protection be put in to place not only to preserve the red and pink corals so that we do not lose these species forever but also to bring more awareness to coral in general. Coral is a mystery to most people. At best, many think it's a plant or often just some inorganic material like a stone. The general public needs to have greater understanding of what coral is and what its role is in the ocean.

I am hoping that the approval of the Appendix II protection for red and pink coral will be just the beginning for further coral conservation. In support of marine conservation and particularly of the precious corals, please sign the Too Precious to Wear pledge.