Small business focus: Copper jewellery that also heals
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, June 14, 2018
Business owner Seleina Fung uses copper to craft her jewellery – a metal that is not only beautiful but since ancient times has been seen to have healing properties.
Seleina told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that her “Craft and Things” line of rings, bracelets and chains “has many healing purposes, it helps with arthritis, circulation; it’s a romantic metal.”
“Everything is done by hand, cutting pliers, no machine or heating chemicals, because the heating chemicals can take away the healing properties of the copper.”
The Herstelling mother of three started the business in 2013 and also offers up-cycling and crocheted products as well including souvenirs, magazine bags and casual tops. Customers have taken a particular fancy to her bracelets, chokers and rings.
Despite having no formal training, she said her crafting skills come easy to her and the products take the minimum of one and a half days to make, depending on the design. She explained her prices are reasonable, catering for all pockets.
“Like most Guyanese, we don’t want things that are extravagant in price. We want nice things but at the same time, we love good prices. I like to make my customers feel that the prices are for them.”
Her aim is to expand her business after attending other family priorities. Her products can be ordered through the business’s Facebook and Instagram pages “Seleina’s Craft and Things,” or from her Herstelling East Bank Demerara home.
By: Crystal Stoll.
Images: Kennyann Bacchus.
Editor’s Note: Up-cycling is also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value. Just about anything can be upcycled – Wine bottles, cans, newspapers, milk cartons, tires.