More beauty. More Jobs. Less gun violence. The motto of Liberty United is as concise as promising. Liberty United’s designers transform illegal weapons into beautiful pieces of jewellery, the yield of which goes to programs working to reduce gun violence in the US.
Each purchase of Liberty United’s jewellery funds programs across the USA to stop gun violence and make communities safer to live for children and their families. The founder, Peter Thum, is a man with a mission for quite a while, already. When working in Africa Thum met people who didn’t have access to clean, safe drinking water. In response he created Ethos water in 2000 that later on was acquired by Starbucks. Since then more than 7 million dollar in grants was provided to fund water and sanitation programs for half a million people worldwide.
While in Africa, Thum encountered young boys and men armed with assault rifles. In reaction he founded Fonderie 47 in 2009, a precursor of Liberty United.
Through Fonderie AK47 guns are turned into exclusive jewellery, watches and high art. The sales of these rare pieces fund the removal and destruction of more weapons in Africa.
It was Thum’s wife Cara Buono, who urged him to expand his mission to address gun violence in America too. Liberty United launched its first collection in 2013. Its working method is highly unconventional. Illegal weapons and bullets are collected from partner communities, checked and catalogued by law enforcement authorities, and released for recycling.
Liberty United’s designers then transform the weapons into pieces of jewellery carrying the serial number of the original gun. A percentage of the profits from sales go back into the communities from which the weapons were collected which helps to create safer opportunities for young people and to helps families who are victims of gun violence.
What a beautiful way to make the world a safer place. We are anxious to know what Peter Thum will take on next.