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You’ve brought home a piece of the rainforest! Your Tagua nut jewelry is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind statement. Known as "vegetable ivory," Tagua is exceptionally durable, but as a completely natural seed, it has a few simple needs to ensure it stays vibrant and stunning for years to come. Here is your guide to keeping your forest seeds happy and healthy! What is Tagua, Anyway? A Few Fun Facts Before we dive into care, here's a little context on this amazing material: Northern Roots: The Tagua nut is the seed of the Phytelephas palm tree, which is found only in the tropical rainforests of Northern South America, primarily Ecuador. A Family Affair: The botanical name, Phytelephas, literally means “elephant plant,” a nod to its use as an ethical, cruelty-free alternative to animal ivory. Historical Buttons: Before the invention of plastic, Tagua was a global commodity! From the late 1800s to the 1930s, Tagua was used to make up to 20% of the world's buttons, often referred to in the apparel industry as "Corozo." The Golden Rules of Tagua Care Since your jewelry is a natural, organic seed, it behaves differently than metal or plastic. The primary goal of care is to protect its internal moisture balance. 1. Avoid Water and High Humidity Tagua is essentially a dried seed, and it's best to keep it dry. Keep it Off the Dive Deck: Never swim, shower, or soak your Tagua jewelry. Prolonged exposure to water can cause the nut to absorb moisture, leading it to warp, swell, or crack as it dries unevenly. Watch the Steam: Avoid wearing your pieces in steamy environments like a sauna or even while taking a hot bath. High humidity isn't its friend! 2. Protect from Extreme Temperatures While durable, Tagua can react to drastic or prolonged temperature changes. Sunlight Moderation: Just like wood, a long, hot sunbath isn't ideal. Avoid leaving your Tagua jewelry sitting on a sunny windowsill or dash, as prolonged sun exposure or extreme heat can cause it to dry out too quickly, potentially leading to cracks. Skip the Oils: Although it sounds natural, do not apply any kind of oil to your Tagua. Because the nut is already dense, oils can interfere with its natural aging process and potentially cause discoloration. 3. Polish and Shine (The Best Part!) To maintain that brilliant shine and deep color, your Tagua just needs a little love once in a while. The Beeswax Secret: The best way to condition and polish your Tagua by hand is by using a small amount of natural beeswax or a similar natural polish (like carnauba wax). Buff it Up: Apply a small amount of wax to a soft, clean cloth and rub it lightly over the surface of the nut. Then, use a dry, clean section of the cloth to buff it for a brilliant shine. This light polish protects the surface and keeps that mesmerising grain looking its best! By following these simple steps, your Tagua jewelry will remain a vibrant, ethical, and meaningful piece of art for decades to come.

Tagua nuts are primarily dyed using natural, organic vegetable-based dyes, aligning with the sustainable and eco-friendly focus of the trade. The process involves submerging the carved and dried Tagua pieces in boiling water mixed with the dye. The nut's porous texture allows it to soak up the color completely. For vibrant, non-toxic colors, artisans use high-quality plant-based pigments sourced from various botanicals, including: Indigo: For deep blues. Logwood: Can produce deep blacks or purples. Turmeric or Marigold: For bright yellows and green-yellows. Blackberries or Beets: Can be used for rich reds and purples. Cochineal (a historic insect-derived dye): Produces brilliant reds and crimsons. SEE OUR TAGUA COLOR CHART

I specialize in creating handmade Tagua nut jewelry, working with the incredible "vegetable ivory" ethically sourced from the rainforests of Ecuador. My passion lies in transforming this eco-friendly material into one-of-a-kind statement pieces that are as kind to the planet as they are beautiful to wear. Because Tagua is a natural seed, no two pieces are exactly alike—meaning every necklace, earring, and bracelet is truly unique to you. Designed and handcrafted in Illinois, every piece tells a story of sustainability, fair trade, and artistic expression. Thank you for supporting a small, woman-owned business and choosing jewelry that makes a difference. Alongside our U.S.-crafted collections, Sun and Wing is proud to feature select pieces handmade by skilled artisans in Ecuador. We celebrate their incredible craftsmanship and honor the decades of tradition passed down through generations. Your purchase directly supports these artisan families and helps sustain their communities.   How I Fell for "Vegetable Ivory" Let me tell you how Sun and Wing started. It was pure obsession—the kind that hits you when you find something totally unexpected and amazing. I was wandering through a cool little boutique in Iowa one day and spotted these stunning pieces of jewelry. The material was incredible: smooth, super solid, and it had this gorgeous, swirly, marbled grain. It honestly looked and felt like high-end ivory, but it was way more vibrant and colorful. I bought a few pieces on the spot and instantly went down the rabbit hole. I had to know what this material was. Turns out, it’s a Tagua nut, and it’s a game-changer.   The Crazy-Cool Story Behind the Nut My deep dive quickly led me to a mind-blowing article on BBC.com about a guy in Ecuador. His story is everything I want Sun and Wing to be about. He runs a business exporting Tagua, and he calls himself a "forced ecologist." Basically, the demand for this stuff was so huge, he got into it, and in the process, realized he was doing some serious good. Here’s the short version of the good: It’s Saving Elephants: Tagua is nicknamed "vegetable ivory" because it’s the perfect, ethical alternative to animal ivory. Choosing Tagua literally helps reduce the demand that funds poaching.  It's Fair Trade: This company works directly with local Ecuadorian artisans, giving them reliable work and fair pay. This supports their families and helps keep traditional craftsmanship alive. It Saves the Rainforest: The best part? Tagua is harvested totally sustainably. The farmers just wait for the seed pods to naturally fall to the forest floor. They never have to cut down the palm trees. This provides local communities with an income stream that depends on keeping the rainforest healthy and standing. Why We Do What We Do That is the Sun and Wing mission in a nutshell (pun intended!). When you pick up one of our pieces, you're getting more than just a gorgeous, unique accessory. You're supporting a story of: Sustainable Style (no harm to the planet). Fair Pay (empowering amazing artisans). Guilt-Free Glamour (a 100% ethical alternative to ivory). Every Tagua slice is a one-of-a-kind piece of nature’s art. We are thrilled to share it with you. Thanks for stopping by!