Bioplastics get the glam treatment from Mo. Na Gems

In New York, jewelry brand Mo.Na Gems is using potato starch-based plastics to mimic gemstones and, reportedly, gaining a following in the New York fashion scene. The material, formulated in 2021 by co-founders Mia Dunn and Mecca McDonald in their Johns Hopkins dorm, breaks down in home composters in a matter of weeks, according to World Bio Market Insights.

Recently, the company held a make-your-own charm event to celebrate Galentine’s Day—a day before Valentine’s Day where women celebrate their friendships—to grow the brand and “make bioplastics look sexy.”