One Illinois artist has found a creative way to make sustainable jewelry out of trash she collects off the streets.
After a trip to Costa Rica, Jessica McGhee learned how plastic harms the planet’s ecosystem, and decided to turn her focus from murals and sculptures to making wearable art instead.
Now the owner of “Love-Hey-Lola,” McGhee is receiving hundred of orders from all over the country and donating a portion of her sales to ocean conservation.
“It’s about sustainability from beginning to end, so I have to have a day scheduled to make boxes, to make tags, to punch out plastics, to do a cleanup,” McGhee said.
She recently started showcasing her artwork on TikTok, and in spite of criticism she received, she is slammed with orders and trying to keep up with the demand.
“The only comment was gross. And so I responded to that, because TikTok lets you respond to comments with a video,” McGhee said. “So I responded to it and I was like ‘You’re right. Littering is gross so this is what I do about it.”
