3 minute read
Working at VIAGE is special because you’re part of a family. What’s more, it’s an extensive family that consists of almost three hundred members and over thirty different nationalities.
There’s nothing you wouldn’t do for family. The seniority of our staff tells you everything you need to know. No fewer than 86 have been with us for fifteen to twenty years. Our fifteenth anniversary celebration was the perfect opportunity to express our profound gratitude for their lasting commitment.
A jewel
But we wanted to give them something that says more than words. Something that expresses appreciation, connectedness and sustainability. That’s why we asked goldsmith and designer Saskia Shutt to create an exclusive piece of jewellery for all staff with at least fifteen years of seniority. The result: an elegant brooch in the shape of the VIAGE logo, crafted from Fairmined silver and set with a natural sapphire from Madagascar. A jewel, in other words, for those loyal gems in our family.
Brussels-based craftswoman
Saskia Shutt is a Belgian-British craftswoman with a workshop in Brussels. She is known for her refined, handmade jewellery and a strong ethical vision of her craft. Since 1999 she has been working under her own name and in 2016 the Federal Public Service Economy awarded her the Certified Craft Label. Two years later she was officially Fairmined certified. This means she exclusively uses precious metals that were ethically mined, with respect for people, the environment and fair working conditions. Moreover, her workshop recently obtained the Eco-Dynamic label of Brussels Environment, in recognition of its sustainable and ethical business practices.
Rare silver
For the VIAGE brooch, Saskia deliberately opted for silver sourced from small-scale mining operations under the Fairmined label. The label guarantees fair pay, safe working conditions and environmentally friendly work methods for the miners and their communities. There are only 8 Fairmined gold mines in the world: 4 in Peru, 3 in Colombia and 1 in Ecuador. Fairmined silver is only mined as a by-product of Fairmined gold, making it all the more special and unique.
The gemstones Saskia uses are also the result of responsible mining. The gorgeous natural sapphire that adorns every brooch was carefully selected from the Ilakaka mine in Madagascar, an area known for its top-quality, ethically mined gemstones.
Connectedness, craftsmanship and respect
On 23 April, during the anniversary celebration, the brooches were personally handed to our staff. This gift is more than a token of our gratitude: it narrates a story of connectedness, craftsmanship and respect – just like their recipients.
