Béljoy

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80% of the citizens living under the poverty line. When someone mentions Haiti we think of a broken country, but through Béljoy artisan jewelry, Haiti is on the mend.

Béljoy founder Abby Clevenger quit her design job and travelled to Haiti, where she was inspired to make a difference. She felt a calling to help Haitian women maintain consistent jobs with livable wages through the art of jewelry making. She created Béljoy to restore dignity and make change through job creation.

The material of each bead is sourced in Haiti, making every piece of jewelry unique to the artist and to the person who wears it. Each purchase not only benefits the craftsperson, but Haitian communities, schools, and medical centers. Despite all the hardship the Haitian people have faced through the years, they see the world through thankful eyes. The name Béljoy combines Bél, the Creole word for beautiful, and the joy that the Haitian people have in their hearts.

We hope you are inspired by the message of Béljoy and the beautiful, unique jewelry they make. Béljoy is based in Joplin, MO, which means your purchase is not only helping artisans of Haiti, but the Joplin community as well. You can find these products in both 5 Pound Apparel locations. You can follow their journey of helping other on their instagram @Béljoy

Laura Payne | Oct. 29th, 2018