The Lady Bird Story...

Lady Bird was established in Bozeman, Montana in 2020, when quarantine time led to more crafting time for founder, Corinne Gaffner Garcia, and her two boys. They began making so much, that they started selling their shirts, tank tops, t-shirts, and artwork at the Bozeman Farmers' Market. 

 

Eventually, as the kids moved on to other things, Corinne honed in on bead work, and created a line of Boho wrap bracelets, earrings, necklaces that are perfect for the outdoorsy types, along with nature-inspired clothing. 

Today, Lady Bird's handcrafted products are sold in-person at our studio/shop in the LeeAnn Ramey Gallery at 24 N. Tracy in downtown Bozeman, Montana, at boutique stores in Montana, around the U.S., and at farmers markets and pop-up events. Follow us on Instagram for updates.

Ethical & Eco-Friendly

We are always conscious and on the lookout for ethically-sourced, eco-friendly beads and charms, and we always know where our products are sourced from. See more info on the different elements below:

BEADS

All of our beads, seed beads and pressed, are produced in Japan and the Czech Republic where both environmental and employment protections are of a very high standard. A benefit to using glass beads is that they are environmentally friendly and contain no free silica. Generally found in traditional sandblasting media, free silica can release harmful chemicals during the abrasion process. 

The Czech Republic is known for their high-quality glass beads, and they are deep-rooted in their traditions and culture. The history of Czech glass beads, it is thought, goes back as far as the 3rd century BCE when the Celts began to produce the first glass beads in Bohemia, now known as the Czech Republic. Therefore, the use of these is in many ways helping to preserve the artisan culture.

The Japanese beads we use are either Miyuki or Toho seed beads, made by artisans from natural raw materials and recycled glass, high quality, consistent in size and shape, allowing beaders to create professional quality pieces. Japan is known for high-standards when it comes to working conditions. 

CHARMS & METAL BEADS

When it comes to charms and metal beads, we use silver or gold plated brass or stainless steel, which “is playing an important role in sustainable design and alternative energy evolution. Ultimately, the most environmentally friendly materials are corrosion resistant and durable, have high-recycled content and recapture rates, provide long service life and reduce resource use.” 

All other metal findings and charms are from leading manufacturers in China & India - We always choose the lead/cadmium/nickel-free option from these manufacturers, which are produced to align with EU regulation. Due to the nature of the manufacturing process, it is impossible to have full transparency on each raw material. The supply chain is complex and includes many stages - from the mining of raw materials to manufacturing.

CORDING

Beadalon is the company that makes the elastic cording, and it is manufactured in the United States. Most outlets source directly from the factory and can be confident that the employment conditions are satisfactory.