Beautiful Eco-Friendly Jewelry At Mint Collective

StyleEvents
Written By Megan Podolsky

As you all know, when Katie and I opened Mint Collective in 2020, we got a lot of our inspiration from the shops in Duck, North Carolina, while quarantining with the family!

As with any business, we are constantly evolving, dropping lines that don’t work, and adding new ones! Adding the new is what’s the most fun for us!

Fast forward to 2022, and I am visiting one of our favorite shops in Duck, you know, just trying to support local… when I discovered this fabulous new dainty jewelry line! I fell in love with the Mama ring and treated myself! I chatted with the owner a bit (the boys just LOVE when I do this) about this new line. Once I learned the story behind the brand, I knew we needed to bring these beauties to Alexandria. Keep reading - I think you’ll agree that Ella Stein is a perfect fit for Mint Collective.

Woman-Owned, Affordable, Sustainable, Eco-Friendly

The philosophy behind this women-owned brand is to bring diamond jewelry to the market that is as affordable as it is sustainable. Ella Stein’s jewelry is created using certified recycled sterling silver and sustainable diamonds. All of the pieces are available in 14k gold plated sterling silver, and each piece comes wrapped in reusable packaging made from recycled materials. How adorable is that box?

Did you know that when an engagement ring is cut, an average of 60 percent of the stone is thrown away? Ella Stein sorts and uses these tiny symbols of love in their jewelry, reducing environmental waste and making their jewelry completely sustainable.

The diamonds in the jewelry are hand cut and polished by self-employed women in Gujarat, India. They work alongside their children and friends in their homes to lift their families out of poverty and give themselves a better life. Each piece of their jewelry is then handcrafted by talented female artisans in Mumbai, India. They work together in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility where they receive fair wages, retirement and medical benefits, and six months of maternity leave.

We couldn’t be more excited for this line to arrive! Check out @shopmintcollective on Instagram for more information!

Megan Podolsky

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Owner | 529 Kid’s Consign
Co-Owner | Mint Condition and Mint Collective

Megan's career in retail/merchandising began in the mid-nineties standing in front of a woodsy smelling Abercrombie and Fitch. Sporting an oversized plaid flannel and bootcut jeans she said hello to every customer that eagerly walked into the popular retailer.  Little did Megan know that, while creating a perfect "denim wall" and dressing in all of the latest fashion that the lifestyle brand offered she was building the foundation for her fun and exciting career! 

After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, Megan managed multiple A&F stores before she moved on to an assistant buyer position in contemporary dresses at the local Arlington-based retailer Hecht's (now Macy's). She gained an immeasurable amount of knowledge before moving onto a different facet of the business at Calvin Klein Jeans. Megan worked her way from retail coordinator to East-Coast regional manager helping to create the Calvin Klein aesthetic in department stores from Boston to Miami. 

After her first son, Ethan was born, her position at CKJ was eliminated, due to the harsh economic conditions at the time. 

This is how 529 was born! Megan quickly began to see how fast Ethan was growing out of his clothing. She knew other moms had the same amount of adorable "gently worn" clothing piling up. Combining her love of retail and her obsession with dressing Ethan gave her the idea to try and sell this clothing. 529 became a popular "pop-up" shop in the Alexandria area and once the following was big enough, a brick and mortar store in historic Old Town. 529 Kids Consign exemplifies who Megan is and what she has learned throughout her career. It's a warm, well-organized, well-edited boutique that attracts moms from all over the DC metro area. 

On any given visit to the store you may be greeted by three boys dressed to the nines..they too have the passion.

We are an upscale children's and maternity consignment boutique specializing in the latest trends. Quality is important to us, which is why we are particular about our brands. Offering not only consignment items but also the freshest and most trendy must-haves for hip moms and cool kids makes us the place to shop!

529 Kids Consign

122A South Royal Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

703.567.4518

Monday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm

Sunday: 12pm - 5pm

www.529kidsconsign.com

Mint Condition stocks an ever-changing inventory of current women’s clothing, handbags, shoes and jewelry by top designers – all in a fresh boutique atmosphere. Come see why we've been named the DC Metro’s Best Consignment Store by Washingtonian, Northern Virginia, Virginia Living Magazines and the Washington Post Express and featured in Southern Living Magazine as one of Old Town's best boutiques. 

Visit our fabulous 2,000 square foot location along the brick-lined streets of charming, historic Old Town, Alexandria.

www.shopmintcondition.com

Mint Condition                       

103 S. Saint Asaph Street

Alexandria, VA 22314             

703.836.6468                          

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