Our Story
We believe in the power of creativity to transform lives and make the world a better place. This belief informs everything we do, from the decision to create original designs to our commitments to Fair Trade, Greening and Philanthropy. Our designs celebrate jewelry as a joyful form of self expression. We invite you to tell your own story, one piece at a time.
Hello from Nina
In 1983, I was a teenager selling my handmade jewelry from a stand on Telegraph Avenue and wondering how I could turn my passion into a viable career. In search of answers, I studied business at UC Berkeley. Inspiration struck on a trip to Bali, where I discovered a thriving community of artisans. Working together, we brought to life a collection of silver jewelry. As the business evolved, I expanded our production to include a talented group of artisans in Thailand.
Each of our designs begins as a hand drawn sketch in our home office in Berkeley. Digital files and physical samples crisscross the globe in search of perfection. Once we are satisfied that it lives up to our high standards, the new design is made available jewelry lovers.
Through the decades, I have remained focused on delivering the highest quality products by practicing fair trade and social responsibility. We strive to live up to our core values of Creativity, Excellence, Respect, Teamwork, Initiative and Inspiration. Our team works hard to embody this spirit in our interactions with each other, our customers, our silversmiths, and the environment.
Nina Designs delivers the highest quality products by practicing fair trade and social responsibility.
Sustainable Silver
Every item we produce in Thailand is made from 100% post-consumer recycled sterling silver. Post-consumer sterling silver includes metal retrieved from discarded electronics and other industrial materials, as well as used consumer items. 50% of our Bali production is made from reclaimed sterling silver. This silver includes both pre and post-consumer and industrial waste. We will continue efforts to make our Bali production facilities as green as possible.
Greening
As of April 2025, we have planted over 210,000 trees with Trees for the Future! We partnered with Trees for the Future to offset all of the carbon associated with our office operations and the orders we ship out to customers. Trees for the Future has a proven track record, and we like the fact that they plant many trees that provide food and materials for local populations who then have a vested interest in keeping the trees healthy. They run programs in Africa, Asia and South America.
Microloans
We’ve funded over $300,000 in microloans to 700+ women artisans in 30 countries! We offer our loans to women artisans through two great organizations, Kiva and Novica. Loans are granted to women who make jewelry, clothing and textiles, sculptures, masks, wood carvings, tapestries, purses and bags, recycled art, knits, embroidery, and more!
Fair Trade Practices
Nina Designs has been practicing fair trade since our founding in 1983, long before there was a term for it. As the company grew, we stayed true to our principals. We expanded our commitment to fair pay to include benefits, equal pay, and opportunities for women in management as well as production.
