Statement Earrings With a Purpose

Our story

Made by Caylea is a one-woman small business that began as a pandemic hobby during the summer of 2020, when I wanted to give back to organizations doing important work and find some joy while creating. When you shop small from Made by Caylea, you support the spirit of creativity and help me pursue my artistic dreams.

I saw my first pair of polymer clay earrings at a small craft market in Berry, New South Wales, Australia in 2019. Since that moment, I knew I needed to begin a journey with clay!

How it Works

A portion of our profits have been donated to organizations advancing social and environmental justice since 2020, including to the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Trevor Project, and Fair Fight to name a few great organizations. Our products are made by hand in my home studio. I’m continuously inspired by playful shapes, natural textures, and warm earth tones. Made by Caylea earrings feature gold-plated and silver-plated posts and hooks. Most people with sensitive ears can wear these metals with no issues, but please know we cannot guarantee they will be hypoallergenic for every person. Additional hardware, such as jump rings and other pieces that don't go into the ear piercing, are typically brass. If you’d like to request a custom design or see something new added to the shop, please leave me a note on my Contact page — I’d love to work with you!

Sustainability

Sustainability is a way of life, a mindset, a practice. My intent is to continually reduce the footprint of my venture. Earrings are shipped on a recyclable cardboard earring card inside a burlap jewelry bag, meant to be reused for regifting or small item storage! Our corrugated cardboard shipping boxes are fully recyclable as well. Apart from the shipping label on the package, Made by Caylea earrings come plastic-free. I am continually on the look-out for new swaps that will benefit my customers and our planet, most often by reusing and upcycling past materials, incorporating scrap clay whenever possible, and using a low-waste production, wash, and assembly method. I order nearly all my materials through small businesses and suppliers on Etsy, which offsets the carbon emissions from transport for every order, too.

If you are local to Charlottesville, VA and want to do a contactless pick-up in person, I am happy to do so! — use code “LOCAL” in check-out, drop me a note, or catch me at a local market for a pick-up.

As a Maker, I’m Happiest When . . .

In the kitchen cooking plant-based meals, hiking or exploring outdoors, playing with my dachshund Barnaby, hanging with family and friends, and creating — of course!