Pippa Small

Pippa began her career as a humanitarian anthropologist researching mental illness, land rights, deforestation, climate change and the erosion of communities in Southeast Asia. While there, she was struck by the resilience of the people and their ability to make beautiful jewellery in such challenging circumstances. Pippa had made the pieces she wore herself; they opened conversations and she began to see jewellery as a language of its own.

Pippa was deeply concerned by the vulnerability of communities and skills and thought an overseas market was needed to ensure their future. She took a selection of pieces to Europe and America and found that by editing the designs she could bridge the different cultural aesthetics.

Pippa finds makers through friends, charitable organisations and by turning up in a new place and simply asking, ‘Does anyone know a goldsmith?’ Pippa is driven by people; she has close relationships with the artisans and their families and can identify who made a piece just by looking at it. She shares the makers' stories with her buyers and supporters, wanting the creators to be recognised for their work.

On a recent visit to the workshop in Myanmar, Pippa was delighted to hear laughter from the benches. This is a new space for women in this community as traditionally they would not have learnt metalwork. Through the program created by Pippa together with the Turquoise Mountain and Suu Foundations, the women have a skill they can take anywhere, providing for themselves and their families.