London, England, UK

Maalo

Maalo was born in 2019 from the desire to create timeless, wearable jewellery for every occasion. Mexican designer Montserrat Alonso balances a contemporary aesthetic with inspirations from the natural world, women, and Mexican culture.

After five years of working in the fashion industry with high street brands, Mon decided to pursue her dream of making jewellery. From the beginning, she knew she wanted to approach her collections with a conscious mentality. The outcome was Maalo, a truly sustainable brand whose pieces are handmade either by Mon herself in London or a small team of skilled artisans in Mon's hometown in Mexico.

"Jewellery is part of a person's identity," says Mon, "and the longer you wear a jewellery piece, the more history it builds."

All of Maalo's pieces are made from ethically sourced, recycled sterling silver and gold, or fairtrade gold and gemstones—fairtrade being a vital pillar for Maalo. The brand works only with local suppliers who share its values and beliefs, ensuring all materials are ethical and of the highest quality. Maalo produces jewellery in small batches to avoid the unnecessary waste caused by mass production.

“We believe in sourcing ethical materials to produce pieces that last forever and have minimal impact on our planet,” explains Mon. “The planet is part of every decision we make and so we ensure all aspects of our business are sustainable. It's very important to give back to the Earth and to the people who are part of the process.”