With Peonies Couture celebrating their one-year anniversary, I was reminded of an amazing line of jewelry I came into contact with during my first visit to the boutique. Knowing that I’m into companies with a conscience, Peonies co-owner Pamela Williams introduced me to the work of Teresa Wing Hines, founder of One Pearl. Hines started One Pearl in 2004 as an outlet for her creativity and as a way of generating money for non-profit organizations of her choosing. 100% of the profits from One Pearl jewelry sales go to Cambodian Living Arts, Saving Teens in Crisis, and the Watkinson School Global Studies Program.

“The idea for One Pearl came to me one day during a very painful time in my personal life,” says Hines on the One Pearl website. “I realized that the way a pearl is formed can also symbolize human transformation; a pearl begins as a small particle in a foreign environment, but emerges as a beautiful gem, coated with layers and layers of nacre. This process parallels the changes made possible by effective educational, health, and therapeutic programs.”

You can buy One Pearl necklaces and bracelets online or look for them at Peonies Couture in Centerbrook, CT.