Thelma West on her jewellery design and philanthropy

‘Supporting ladies is important to me’: Thelma West on jewellery style and philanthropy

Nigerian-born, London-based jewelry designer Thelma West attracts on the two her individual historical past and intensive knowledge in the market for a host of philanthropic initiatives. In our job interview marking Intercontinental Women’s Working day 2022, she tells us what drives her do the job in Nigeria and outside of, and how her individual expertise as a minority in the business has afflicted her outlook.

Wallpaper*: Which concerns are key for you and how are you supporting them?

Thelma West: Supporting gals in the marketplace is really critical to me. I have usually had a feminine-only crew and continue to prioritise this choosing composition. The aim in this article was to produce a safe place for far more females, supplying chances to discover and develop in knowledge and knowledge.

In the field and my get the job done, sourcing is also something that I take extremely seriously. Not without its problems, I keep on to thrust for progressively sustainable techniques for the important raw materials we operate with. The men and women that benefit from the price we pay back are significant to me.

Thelma West ‘Asscher 8’ earrings

I’m also committed to supporting communities in my homeland, Nigeria. A part of each and every sale we make goes in direction of spending medical center charges for young children in will need and educating youthful gals to secondary stage. I’ve also been doing work hard to assist the women of all ages of Nigeria as very well. This is vital for me to share because my to start with endeavor has been a failure. But we need to fall short at times, study, and keep shifting in the proper direction. Work levels are not terrific in the place and females tumble guiding on each and every front. I have expended some time doing the job on a strategy for the ministry of good minerals which focuses on acquiring girls off the streets and into workshops, building jewelry, slicing gems, polishing and much more, all primarily based all around the resources the region is blessed with. It was not productive but it is still incredibly a lot a venture that is needed, so it is something we will go on to work on and hope there are folks keen for real change on the other side.

W*: Your pursuits operate from educating the following era in Nigeria to readdressing the stability in London – how essential is it to you for your do the job to encompass these varied strands?

TW: Doing work these problems and will cause into my artwork was the only way that labored for me and my staff. It’s a excellent supply of joy and fulfillment understanding that when we are effective in accomplishing what we do, other men and women sense it way too. Regardless of whether it is telling a mother that her youngster can get the remedy they desperately need, or a youthful female that her education and learning is not the to start with detail to give up when items get tough, it is a duty we do not take evenly.

The fact is I truly feel like I’m performing pretty small in the facial area of all the difficulties we are confronted with daily in the planet, but we preserve going recognizing that persons count on us.

Thelma West ‘Embrace Stack’ bracelets

W*: Can you notify us about your practical experience as a minority in the field and how it has informed your steps?

TW: It’s been a very long challenging street, but I held on to embracing difficult perform, resilience, determination and obtaining joy in the midst of the climb. I have not obtained my goals nonetheless, but on the way to that, I truly feel it is my duty to hold my hand out for a person else who desires a hand in whichever way I can assist with their artwork or lifetime.

I try to discover splendor in all I do, and my heritage influences most of that. For example, I chose to display screen performs by African artists in my room, each telling their personal tale, not only for the reason that I see myself in their tales, but also mainly because I am in a position to showcase these will work to a lot more men and women who get to working experience a minimal little bit much more than they envisioned. And who understands, probably they’ll become admirers of the artists they found out or fell in love with at the TW studio. §