This is our first show, and to be honest we're a little nervous. But the opportunity to showcase what we believe to be a pretty incredible company along side some of Canada's leading green organizations is pretty exciting.

So what exactly are we offering at the event?

The Fair Trade Jewellery Company will be unveiling the Cabbagetown atelier on August 1st  2009.

The 950 square feet atelier on Parliament Street in Toronto, under construction since January, has been a labour of love.  FTJCo founder Ryan Taylor with a talented team of designers worked to create an inviting, modern space for guests and to showcase the company’s sophisticated jewellery collection. As part of the design, there was an environmental responsibility to build the atelier with as much recovered material from the existing property as possible. From wood to piping to nails, every component was considered for reuse. You wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at the atelier, however, as the old elements complement new elements like the stunning tile wall shown above.

The construction of the atelier was truly a community effort. Ryan has been an active member in the tech community in Toronto and has been sharing the FTJCo’s journey through his Twitter account. To his surprise, upon hearing about his hands-on efforts working on the atelier, friends from the community offered to lend a hand, sometimes for a few hours, sometimes over a weekend. (You can catch the atelier in progress at reno.ftjco.com.) Grateful for everyone who helped haul in material, sanded, scrubbed, or painted, Ryan likens the communal effort as a throwback to "an old-fashioned barn-raising." What’s amazing is that, in this day and age, how often do you hear of people voluntary pitching in to help someone literally build their passion and livelihood? (And wouldn’t it be great to hear more of it?)

We’ll be posting pictures from the renovation and the atelier in the near future. The wait is nearly over for your chance to check it out for yourself. Make sure to sign-up for our launch party and to stay updated on the latest news.