A striking union of craftsmanship and culture, this collar-style necklace blends hand-crocheted detail with the rich texture of sustainable Tagua beads. With deep black beads nestled into a vivid red woven band, the design evokes both boldness and tradition—perfect for statement makers who appreciate handmade elegance.
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DESIGN: Intricately hand-crocheted collar necklace in red, featuring bold black Tagua beads around the edges and a single button closure.
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MATERIAL: Tagua nut beads (vegetable ivory) and eco-friendly crochet thread.
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SIZE: Length: About 19–21
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Bead size: Varies between 10–15mm
- COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Ecuador
Wearable Craft with Cultural Soul:
This necklace reflects the spirit of Ecuadorian artisanry—from the delicate crochet work to the responsibly sourced Tagua beads. The deep black beads contrast beautifully against the textured crimson backdrop, giving this piece a vibrant yet grounded look. Whether worn with a simple top or layered with boho attire, it's a standout accessory that honors both the earth and the hands that shaped it.
CARE & DISCLAIMER:
Due to the natural nature of Tagua, slight variations in bead tone and shape are expected. Avoid prolonged water exposure. Store flat to maintain crochet shape.
design: A collar-style necklace with a hand-crocheted crimson-red band, edged along the bottom curve with a single row of bold black Tagua beads and finished with a button closure at the back.
size: Length: about 19–21 inches. Bead size varies between 10–15mm.
material: Tagua nut beads (vegetable ivory) and eco-friendly crochet thread.
features: Hand-crocheted collar band, single row of bold black Tagua beads, button closure, sustainable Tagua material
care: Avoid prolonged water exposure and store the piece flat to help the crochet band keep its shape.
disclaimer: Because Tagua is a natural material, slight variations in bead tone and shape between pieces are normal and expected.
The Story
Tagua is the seed of a palm native to Ecuador's coastal and Amazonian rainforest. Once dried, the nut hardens into a dense, ivory-white material that carves, sands, and polishes almost like true ivory — which is exactly why it became known as "vegetable ivory." In the early 1900s, Ecuadorian tagua was shipped abroad by the ton for buttons, and today the same nut is prized as a renewable, cruelty-free alternative to animal ivory for beads and jewelry components.
The beads on this piece are dyed a deep black and set as the visual anchor of a hand-crocheted band, a technique that treats the necklace as much like a small piece of textile work as a piece of jewelry. Crochet is a widely practiced handcraft among Ecuadorian artisan workshops that make wearable accessories, and building a collar shape entirely from a single crocheted thread takes patient, row-by-row control to keep the curve even.
Setting hard, polished Tagua beads into a soft, fibrous crocheted band is a deliberate pairing of textures — one drawn from the forest, the other built by hand at a hook. The result is a necklace that reads as bold and graphic while staying rooted in small-batch, handmade construction rather than machine assembly.
Tagua nuts are harvested once they fall naturally from the palm, then dried before being cut, shaped, and polished into rounded beads — the black ones colored with a dye that penetrates the nut's dense interior. Separately, an artisan crochets the red collar band by hand, working a single continuous thread row by row to build the curved shape that sits at the base of the throat. The finished Tagua beads are then hand-attached along the lower edge of the crocheted band, and a button closure is sewn in to finish the piece — meaning every necklace passes through both a beadmaker's and a crocheter's hands before it's complete.
Craft & Materials
- Made In: Ecuador
- Craft Tradition: Hand-crocheted Tagua beadwork
- Ideal For: Anyone who wants a bold, handmade statement necklace with a sustainable story
- Wear It With: Wear it over a simple crewneck or turtleneck to let the collar take center stage, or layer it into a boho-leaning outfit
- Purpose: Statement wear, everyday accessorizing, gifting
Questions & Answers
What is Tagua, and is it a real gemstone?
Tagua isn't a gemstone — it's the seed of a palm tree native to Ecuador, known as "vegetable ivory" because once dried it hardens enough to carve and polish like ivory. The beads on this necklace are Tagua, dyed black.
Is the necklace adjustable?
It closes with a single button at the back; the finished length is about 19–21 inches, sitting as a collar at the base of the neck.
How should I care for it?
Avoid prolonged water exposure and store it flat so the crocheted band keeps its curved shape.
Why do the beads vary slightly from the photo?
Because Tagua is a natural material, minor variation in bead tone and shape is normal from piece to piece — it's part of working with a real, unprocessed material rather than a uniform synthetic one.
Is Tagua a sustainable material?
Yes. Tagua nuts are harvested from palms without cutting down the tree, making the material a renewable, cruelty-free alternative to animal ivory.
