Sustainably sourced jewelry gives new meaning to second life

A Halifax artist makes one-of-a-kind jewelry with one-of-a-kind butterfly wings.

Beauty and nature were an obvious combination for Theresa Capell when it came to inspiration for her jewelry and her brand, Miss Foxine Couture.

“Growing up in the Annapolis Valley, I would go for walks in the woods. Sometimes I’d see a fallen butterfly, and I just thought, ‘they’re so beautiful and gorgeous that I wanted to find a way to preserve their natural beauty’, since Earth is the biggest inspiration of all throughout my work,” explained Capell of her unique butterfly wing jewelry.

“I contacted sanctuaries and conservatories across Canada, trying to find ways to preserve their beauty and really letting them know that it’s something I want it to be able to pass on, since they’re delicate lifespans only last one to two weeks.”

She now receives wings every couple of months and repurposes them into necklaces and earrings, which tend to be her biggest hit.

“Everything is so easy to sell because I really believe in her and all of her work,” explained employee, Melissa Bradley. “And I’ve been able to see her progress to where she is now, and it’s very inspiring.”

Inspiring too for those flocking to the waterfront in Halifax and seeing the bright and beautiful display.

“I get a really good response from them [sanctuaries and conservatories] and from customers, just to know that I’m recycling from nature and I’m reusing beauty at its purest form,” Capell said with a smile.

Something Bradley doubled down on.

“Everybody gushes about how talented she is, how wonderful all the pieces are. They love that things are sustainable and ethically sourced, like the butterfly wings and the pearls, so nothing is harmed in the making of the jewelry, because if nothing has to die for art, then it shouldn’t.”

Capell began Miss Foxine Couture in 2008 to make money while attending design school, she would go to markets to sell her products.

“I fell in love with the process of creating and designing jewelry. It’s so hands on, and it really got to put my inspiration out there and my thoughts, ideas into physical form,” she said. “And when I graduated in 2013, I’m like, ‘maybe I can make this into a real thing if I really hustle hard really bring my love into it’.”

And the community has supported her venture.

“They really love it. They like seeing my journey, being Halifax founded and being from within Canada,” said Capell. “A lot of customers have seen my journey from me being like a poor university student. So now being able to use sustainable materials within my work. I love seeing my journey and seeing how my work grows and how I support the environment through my pieces.”

Something Bradley loved too, who met Capell 11 years ago while buying a pair of those butterfly earrings, she began working for her part-time. Last year, Bradley began working full-time and sees how people respond to the products they sell.

Even in trying times given the tariffs coming from the United States, Capell said Miss Foxine has pivoted and found a surprising response.

“We’ve been finding it weirdly a little bit better than past years,” Capell said. “I’m just finding tourists are really wanting to support small businesses. Even Americans, even though it’s not an American made product. People are wanting to support that and wanting to pay for small businesses and supporting their lifestyle.”

“Surprisingly, I was talking to a few cruise ship goers, and they were happy to buy local,” added Bradley.

“They were being more mindful as well, which was really surprising just because it’s Canadian local. It was nice that everybody’s kind of getting on board with trying to support Canada.”

But with Miss Foxine, it’s not just Canadian culture she wants to highlight.

“I’m Filipino Canadian. My mom’s Filipino, my dad’s Canadian,” explained Capell. “Just trying to figure out who I am as an individual, as a Canadian and a Filipino. It’s important for me to preserve my heritage and incorporate that throughout my work. So, I’m really expressing who I am as an individual and an artist.”

Which is why the pearls for her pieces are sourced from the Philippines, while everything else is local to support her desire for sustainability, and of course, culture.

“The jewelry industry contributes so much to emissions, especially in the water and our carbon footprint,” she said. “So, it’s important for me that I use gold filled and sterling silver. So, you know that your jewelry isn’t just going to be thrown out and put in the garbage and causing environmental hazards.”

As for the name, she found inspiration through the whimsical.

“It’s based on this fairytale of this woman who turned into a fox, and she protects women. And from my work, jewelry is like a totem that you can wear every day to express yourself in your journey.”

A journey she continues on everyday.

“Growing up by the ocean, as a kid I was like, ‘oh, maybe someday I’ll be able to sell things on the beach, have a little hut or a stand’,” she smiled. “I think recently over the last couple of years, being on the Halifax waterfront and being at the Halifax Seaport Farmers Market, I didn’t realize that I had brought that vision to life.”

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