It all began from the passion to give back. Having been raised on the Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia, Pia always had a fascination with items the tides brought in. As a child she enjoyed creating little works of art from the debris. She developed her idea of recycling island debris into an annual community event and so Flotsam + Jetsam was born.

At Latitude, we nurture a deeper connection with the ocean and particularly the home of our pearls, the Abrolhos Islands. Every year for over a decade, we dedicated ourselves to giving back. ‘Clean Up Australia Day’ launches ‘Flotsam + Jetsam by Latitude Jewellers’, a purpose driven event to clean up, recycle and create.

A community of volunteers go to the Islands, collect coastal debris, which has washed up, including plastics, ropes, old broken lobster pots, floats, wood, glass and much more. This is shipped back to the mainland and dropped off at Geraldton Fisherman’s Wharf where people come from near and far to select items to recycle into creative works of art.

We have removed a whopping 80+ tons of rubbish from the Abrolhos Islands since 2011. Initially starting as a project to simply ‘do good’, ‘give back’ and ‘take care of the place where we grow our pearls’, the Flotsam + Jetsam initiative quickly developed into what it is today.

The event has many more benefits than just cleaning up coastline and creating art. It encourages artists to express themselves on a deeper level, without judgment, in some cases this has shown significant healing and wellbeing within the artists and the community.

Artworks are exhibited in our Jewellery Showroom and each year hundreds of people visit to view these incredible works made from recycled objects from the sea. Awards and prizes are announced at one of the most popular events of the year, attended by community and media.

With a love and absolute respect for the Islands, Pia is passionate about contributing towards preserving them. This is her way of showing gratitude to the ocean for giving her the beautiful pearls she grows.

Learn more about the 2023 Flotsam + Jetsam exhibition.