The WOMED Award – short for Women in Enterprise and Development – honours women entrepreneurs who dare to dream, take bold action, and build impactful businesses. Every year, this award celebrates women whose stories inspire others to launch and lead their own ventures.
From 2019 to 2023, I had the joy and honour of contributing to this inspiring initiative. Each year, I gifted a bespoke piece of handmade jewellery in Fairmined eco gold to the winner.
This collaboration aligned perfectly with my values: ethical sourcing, sustainability, empowerment, and a strong belief in women lifting each other up.
Every piece I created tells a story. Each one represents collaboration, recognition, and a shared commitment to making a difference. Let me take you through these five meaningful encounters — and the jewellery created for each trailblazing woman.
2019 – The Promise of the Year
In February 2019, I designed my first piece for the WOMED Awards. The winner founded Natural Self, named Promise of the Year 2018. Natural Self is vegan and cruelty-free skincare brand built on values of purity, well-being, and sustainability.
Driven by a desire to remove harsh chemicals from beauty routines, Isabelle started her journey in her kitchen. She blended clean, nourishing ingredients to create skincare that respects both the skin and the planet. Natural Self quickly became a respected name in Belgian clean beauty.
Since meeting her, I’ve become a loyal fan of her products. They feel honest, luxurious, and rooted in integrity. She has since moved on to pursue new entrepreneurial adventures — and I have no doubt she’ll continue to make waves.
To mark her award, I created stacking rings in Fairmined eco yellow gold. One features a graceful twist and a crisp emerald-cut apatite; the other holds a large pink pearl. Together, they speak of elegance and confidence — much like Isabelle herself.
Designing this piece with her was a joyful, fluid process. She brought clarity and trust, and the collaboration felt effortless.
2020 – The Power of Solidarity
The 2019 WOMED Award, transformed her family’s chrysanthemum nursery into Gediflora, a global horticultural leader. Today, Gediflora exports premium chrysanthemums around the world, celebrated for their beauty, innovation, and sustainable cultivation. What impressed me most wasn’t just her business success — it was her generosity. She chose to share her prize with the other finalists. One of them became the next woman I designed for.
Leading Cohousing Projects, a forward-thinking enterprise that builds collaborative housing communities across Belgium. Her mission? Combat loneliness, reduce environmental impact, and foster a sense of belonging through shared living spaces.
I made a necklace in Fairmined eco white gold, set with a striking rough sapphire from a responsibly-run mine in Australia. At the time, no Fairmined chain was available, so I handcrafted every link myself. I drew down the wire to 0.5mm, shaped the oval links, and assembled them one by one. The result was an elegant piece rooted in precision and ethics — just like her work.
2021 – Empowering Movement
Â
The 2020 WOMED Award recognised the founder of 3Motions, a social enterprise making inclusive sport and physical activity accessible to all.
She and her team design custom movement and sports programmes for people with disabilities. They partner with schools, institutions, and individuals, ensuring that no one is left behind when it comes to health and self-expression.
We co-created a versatile necklace in Fairmined eco yellow gold, featuring a creamy oval pearl. With no Fairmined chain available at the time, I once again made the chain by hand. The hook catch allows the piece to adjust in length — worn either long or short — reflecting 3Motions’ values of adaptability and inclusion.
The necklace mirrors her impact: refined, functional, and empowering.
2022 – A Delicious Transformation
In 2021, WOMED Award went to a revolutionary and work with BonMush,
a plant-based company producing mushroom-based meat alternatives.
She took over her father-in-law’s struggling meat factory and transformed it into a thriving, sustainable business. BonMush doesn’t just offer delicious alternatives to meat — it’s creating a shift in local agriculture. She even worked with pig farmers to help them transition to mushroom farming.
As a vegetarian, I deeply admire her mission — and I can confirm that BonMush spreads are absolutely delicious.
She had a clear idea for her ring. She wanted a clean, elegant design in Fairmined eco yellow gold, using 1.2mm round wire throughout. At the centre sits a striking drop-shaped rubellite in a three-prong setting. The result is bold yet refined — much like her entrepreneurial vision.
2023 – Closing the Loop
The final year of my involvement brought me to the winner of the 2022 WOMED Award for her company, Raff Plastics.
Raff Plastics is a family-run recycling firm that transforms plastic waste into new raw materials. Their work closes the loop in the circular economy and makes a real environmental impact across Europe.
She brought more than innovation to the table — she brought storytelling. She created a podcast
series around recycling, reusing, and repurposing, giving voice to the future of sustainability and adding a much-needed female perspective to the conversation.
She arrived at my workshop with a clear vision: a brooch shaped like the Raff Plastics logo, to wear at conferences and trade shows. She also wanted two diamonds, and when the design exceeded the budget, she simply topped it up — confident in the piece’s long-term value.
I handcrafted the brooch in Fairmined eco rose gold and set it with two traceable Australian diamonds from the Argyle mine. It now stands as a proud emblem of her leadership in the recycling industry.
Why Supporting the WOMED Award Matters to Me
Over five years, I had the privilege of creating jewellery for women who inspired me deeply. Supporting the WOMED Award was never just about gifting a piece. It was about championing women who lead with courage, purpose, and compassion.
This award embodies what I believe in: celebrating female entrepreneurship, uplifting each other, and demonstrating that ethical, sustainable craftsmanship is not only possible — it’s powerful.
Each creation symbolised resilience, vision, and recognition. These pieces became part of something bigger — a movement that believes success and ethics go hand in hand.
Held each year during International Women’s Day, the WOMED Award sends a powerful message: women belong in every part of the entrepreneurial landscape. The event became even more meaningful when Queen Mathilde of Belgium, a dedicated patron of sustainable entrepreneurship, attended. Her presence added dignity and depth to an already inspiring occasion.
Rethinking Corporate Gifts
When we honour someone’s achievements, we do more than offer a gift — we create a moment of genuine connection, gratitude, and recognition.
A meaningful piece, handmade with care and purpose, says: I see you. I value your journey. I celebrate what you bring into the world.
Sustainable, ethical jewellery reflects these values beautifully. It acknowledges effort and integrity, while giving something back — to the planet, to the communities who extract our materials, and to the people we wish to honour.
Choose to make your gestures of recognition truly meaningful. Celebrate achievements with bespoke, ethical creations that tell a deeper story — one of care, respect, human connection, and heart. Because appreciation deserves more than a gift. It deserves a story worth sharing.
