What Inspired the Name Alora?
We've always been inspired by the idea of self love and breaking down barriers that prevent women from achieving their dreams. It's with this mission in mind that Emilyn, Jameela & Peter took the name Alora from Bantu {one of the oldest Central African languages} which translates into "my dream". The name, represents a positive transformation of character and inspiration for the wearer to embrace their uniqueness and achieve their dreams.
Read more of the Alora story at About Us
When was Alora Founded?
Alora was officially founded in 2013, but started as a hobby in 2009.
For more company history, visit About Us
Where is Alora Based?
Alora is based in Calgary, Canada. We source jewelry and materials from around the world in addition to making select pieces and custom orders from our home studio in Calgary, Canada.
What work do you do in Canada?
We work with local charities such as the Mustard Seed, YWCA, and the Louise Dean Centre. Throughout the year, portions of our sales are donated to initiatives that prevent family violence, reduce poverty and increase self-confidence among women and children.
For more information on our work in Canada, visit our Community Involvement Page
What work do you do in Ghana?
A lot of the materials we use in our Alora branded handmade jewelry (like the recycled glass beads) are from Ghana. Our artisans get paid a fair wage for their work.
What is the idea behind Alora Jewelry?
We believe that the best way to make things happen or achieve anything meaningful in life is by setting an intention that is why many Alora pieces come with a meaning card. Here is how it works:
- Select an intention for yourself or for someone that you believe needs it
- Wear your jewelry as a reminder of that intention
- Turn your intention/dream into a reality and share your story with us to be featured in our make dreams come true section. Use the hashtag #AloraTribe
What materials does Alora work with?
Alora jewelry is handcrafted using materials like brass, silver, recycled glass and recycled brass, semi-precious gemstones, and resin. For custom pieces, we also work with gold and precious gemstones like sapphire.
Please note: We do our best to ensure that our chain is lead and nickel free. If you have an allergy to certain types of metals, Alora Jewelry is not for you. If you are not sure if you have an allergy, please consult your doctor before wearing any kind of jewelry.
Where do you get the recycled glass used in your designs?
The recycled glass beads we use are made in Ghana.
What is Brass?
Brass is an alloy consisting primarily of copper and zinc. Because brass composition can vary, slight discrepancies in color may occur. To prevent discoloration, avoid exposing brass jewelry to moisture or chemicals and polish sparingly.
Many people are not sensitive to any of the properties of brass. It is a great metal to wear and work with! We want to mention that if you have an allergy to any metal our jewelry is not for you. We are happy to address any questions you have, if you leave us a message :)
Are the products pictured online to size?
Due to discrepancies between computer monitor sizes, it is difficult to show the actual size of a product on the web. Because of this, Alora provides detailed measurements and descriptions of our jewelry on every product page.
Please note that due to the handmade nature of each piece, jewelry may vary slightly in size. All measurements are a near approximation.
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