Lebrusan Studio, a leading ethical jewellery brand based in Brighton and London, is delighted to announce its place on Professional Jeweller’s shortlist for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Business of the Year. Despite stiff competition from hundreds of other candidates, the lifestyle business impressed Professional Jeweller’s judging panel of industry experts enough to land a place on the shortlist just weeks after its Creative Director Arabel Lebrusan was hailed a Brand Champion on the publication’s 2023 Power List.

The CSR Business of the Year award, this year sponsored by The Betts Group, recognises jewellery retailers that place corporate social responsibility at the forefront of their businesses. Lebrusan Studio, a brand that has been synonymous with the ethical jewellery movement since it was founded 11 years ago, has been shortlisted on account of a number of achievements this year.

As a business that prides itself on “searching constantly” for new ways to reduce its environmental impact and maximise its positive socioeconomic impact, Lebrusan Studio has refined its supply chain in recent months to ensure that 100% of its manufacturing takes place in the UK. Now proud members of the National Association of Jeweller’s prestigious Created in the UK scheme, the brand celebrates its exceptional achievement by branding every piece of jewellery with the special Created in the UK hallmark.

Eight years on from establishing its partnership with The Water Project, Lebrusan Studio continues to make fixed quarterly donations to the charity. The designer brand, which specialises in engagement rings, wedding bands and bespoke commissions, describes this endeavour as one of a number of attempts at “restorative justice.” Its donations directly fund projects in Sierra Leone, where the long-term effects of conflict diamonds remain palpable.

In the same vein, Lebrusan Studio also announced in June that it has planted enough new trees to fill almost three football pitches in the Choco, Colombia, a forest region largely decimated by mining activities in the past decade. These trees are the fruits of the brand’s ongoing Treasure for Trees initiative, wherein 10 new trees are planted for each piece of jewellery sold.

Most recently, Lebrusan Studio employees have begun to receive weekly deliveries of organic fruit and veg boxes; a benefit conceived to promote healthy living and assist with rising food prices.

“I founded Lebrusan Studio in 2012, fuelled by a deep-rooted desire to change the jewellery industry from the inside out,” Arabel Lebrusan says. “I know jewellery has the potential to make the world a better place; to educate, tell beautiful stories, and redistribute wealth and autonomy. I have dedicated the past decade to ensuring that Lebrusan Studio fulfils those purposes. A spot on a shortlist is recognition of these efforts, and that makes me feel very proud.

“We’d like to thank everyone behind this decision and say a huge ‘congratulations’ to our fellow finalists. Good luck!”

Not the studio’s first foray into the realm of accolades, Arabel Lebrusan and her eponymous brand scooped up two titles at last year’s prestigious NAJ Awards, with Arabel herself crowned Designer of the Year and the stirring Lebrusan Studio Against Child Labour fundraising campaign awarded Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year. This year, Lebrusan Studio was shortlisted for a further NAJ Award and is currently in the running for Bridal Retail Jeweller of the Year and Ethical/Sustainable Jewellery Business of the Year at the UK Jewellery Awards.

This year, the outcome of the Professional JewellerAwards is decided entirely by the industry, with an approved list of individuals working for both retailers and suppliers due to receive a voting form via email on the 24^th July. All will be revealed at an awards ceremony London’s De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms on the 20^th September.