This jewellery has been exclusively designed for the Whitworth by Sarah-Joy Ford in collaboration with Just Trade. 

Battered Brass Labrys earrings. The labrys is a bilateral symbol originating in ancient Minoan religious culture, associated with female goddesses and Amazonian warrior women. The labrys became a lesbian symbol of empowerment in the 1970s, appearing in periodicals, philosophical texts, clothing, jewellery, banners, and tattoos.

Sarah-Joy Ford is an Artist, Post-Graduate Researcher and Associate Lecturer at Manchester School of Art. Ford works with textiles to explore the complexities and pleasures of queer communities, histories and archives. Her practice sits at the intersection of digital and traditional: using strategies of quilting, digital embroidery, digital print, applique and hand embellishment.

Just Trade works in partnership with small fair-trade projects across the world. Born out of the recognition that in order for small Fair Trade projects to be sustainable, they need a long-term route to market for their goods. Just Trade now works with eight groups of artisans in Peru, Ecuador, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. 

Earring Size: Approx 4cm x 4cm