Jewellery idea really takes off

Young people have been hit hard by unemployment as a result of COVID-19, but some savvy young business minds in the South West say that has sparked a quest for entrepreneurship and new beginnings.

Kirralee Moloney and Kiana Blackburn pioneered a sustainable jewellery and accessories line in Busselton after losing their jobs in the fashion and retail industry during the pandemic.

After a wine-filled night of brainstorming and sharing dreams, Luna and Sol was born.

The brand’s products include sterling silver jewellery, leather bags, and wallets.

“Our business is about promoting and supporting slow fashion,” Miss Blackburn said. “We want to educate people about the importance of ethical and sustainable products.”

The 22-year-old said the fashion industry was one of the highest polluting industries and was responsible for an estimated 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

“In Australia 6000kg of textiles are dumped in landfill every 10 minutes,” she said. “It is so important that people become more aware of sustainable and ethically made products.”

Mrs Moloney, who has a background in the jewellery industry, designs all the pieces and leather products.

“During COVID I was made redundant at one job and lost my second job, so I had a lot of spare time to think about what I wanted to achieve in this lifetime,” Mrs Moloney said.

“I got a creative itch and combined that with my background in jewellery.” The team has also expanded to include Jess Strother and Taryn Yeates.

They can be found at markets all over the region, including The Shed in Dunsborough leading up to Christmas.

Miss Blackburn encouraged other young people to follow their passions and dive into entrepreneurship if they believed they had an idea worth pursuing.

She said she was blown away by the support of the South West community and that the team was designing a new range called Atlantis which was inspired by the region.