Janet Mendez

Janet Mendez - Co-op Manager since 2006, Philippines

Janet and her family live in Antipolo City, Philippines (Pictured above). She knew a life of poverty and begging from the beginning. When she met and married her husband, he struggled to find work. She started to work with our pearl co-op to help support her two daughters and provide the means to be able to afford to send them to school. 

She had a design idea for a double wire ring that secured the pearl and crystals into the band of the wire removing the need to glue the pearl in place- this immediately became a popular design!

Paying it forward, she then taught this trade to Irish and Jezreel, (who at the time were in their late teens) and the two girls were able to fund their college education because of this skill.

 Shop for items made by Janet and our other pearlologists from the Philippines.