Full disclosure:

For many years now, galleries that feature fine crafts made in America, have been carrying Angie Olami jewelry because Angie Atkins, the owner and designer of Angie Olami, Inc., is an American residing and working in Montclair, NJ. A few years back, due to the stricter mission statements of some very prestigious Made In America ONLY (MIAO) stores, Angie decided to shift back some of her production from Israel to New Jersey. It does not always make sense to do this, however, because the roman glass we use is found in archaeological digs in Israel and it is wiser to choose, clean, and work with the glass on site. Still, great pains are taken to honor the request of MIAO stores to make the bulk of their order here. Please indicate if you would like us to do most of the work for your order in our NJ studio and we will happily oblige. Incidentally, all pearl and stone necklaces are always strung here (although the pearls are cultured in China, the gemstones cut in India, the findings probably cast in Germany, and the chains made in Italy - but, hey, we buy them in New York!). All watches are always assembled here, although the movement is Japanese and shipped through Hong Kong, and a great deal of hand finishing is done to most pieces in good old New Jersey even if they are cast in Israel.

I understand that buying/selling MIAO preserves and supports American artists and American craft traditions, helps the economy, and can even narrow the focus of your gallery to be more educational and enriching. One can be reasonably sure that people involved in the manufacturing of components and of the finished product have been paid a decent wage, whereas with imported products, one is not always sure. If you buy my designs, even when they are made in Israel, you are still supporting an American designer and company, and I can assure you that, due to the cost of living and high standard of living in Israel, it is actually more expensive to cast there and run a studio there. The people I work with are not my employees. They are incredibly talented craftsmen, and designers in their own right, who run their own businesses. I hire them to do private label manufacturing for me because the quality of their work is superlative. On a personal note, I also am quite committed to Israel and feel extremely blessed that I have been able to carve out a living that keeps me involved with Israel. The fine Israelies I work with are inspiring not just for their artistry and integrity in business, but for the decency with which they treat their employees. If someone is casting their jewelry in Rhode Island or in another country, as long as the workers are making truly decent wages, what is the difference? Isn't the great value of America that it espouses respect and tolerance? I feel extremely fortunate to live in a "One World Economy", a world where free trade, peace, the internet, and great improvements in shipping continue to feed each other and benefit people, regardless of national borders. How ironic that capitalism's biproduct in the new millennium will be to enhance communication, understanding, and respect for people, and to reward countries adhering to international agreements with prosperity. In doing business with other countries, you learn about their customs, holidays, the beautiful particulars that make them special. The internet and free trade do not reduce the world to one big America. On the contrary, the world is open, and the interchange of ideas is incredibly inspiring. Upon reflection, I actually think it is very "American" of me to incorporate motifs from other cultures' art, architecture, and literature into my work, because it is a beautiful American value to respect the vast differences, to honor individuality, and to triumph the creative spark, wherever it arises.