About Trades of the East

Trades of the East is an internationally recognized importer and wholesaler known for its diverse and ever-changing Exotic Jewelry Collections. Our collections represents the high art of eclectic, handcrafted European and Middle-Eastern jewelry personally selected and often co-created by our founder, Haim Shahar.

You can find our alluring collections in fine boutiques, galleries, gift shops, better department stores and catalogs throughout the U.S. Look for pictorials displaying items from our collections in trend-setting magazines, such as Mademoiselle, Accessories, In-Style, Vogue, Bazaar and others.

Trades of the East has been importing exotic, hand-crafted jewelry for more than a decade. Our jewelry is made of the highest-quality sterling silver, semi-precious stones, and fine roman glass. The collection draws inspiration from a variety of appealingly diverse cultures, featuring both distinctive, ethnic touches and elegant, modern lines. You will find our collections in fine boutiques, galleries, gift shops, catalogs and department stores across the country.

About the founder: Haim Shahar

In 1987, Haim Shahar began working with Israeli jewelry makers to bring their designs to the United States. He started small, at craft fairs and art exhibitions under the name of Trades of the East. The work he chose to sell was beautifully designed, hand-crafted, and appealed to Shahar's own sense of ethnic-romantic style. Operating out of a small college town in Western Massachusetts, Trades of the East soon grew into a successful distribution company representing several different designers. The product line grew to include sterling silver and gold, hand-beaded and crystal mosaics, and costume jewelry.

After six years of operating as a distributor only, Shahar was inspired to create his own designs in silver and gold, all manufactured in Israel and India. "I really wanted to grow my business," he says. "But I was picky about the quality and style of what I was willing to sell. Becoming a designer gave me greater insight into what makes any particular piece of jewelry beautiful, and it helped me define the style that I really feel passionate about and want to share with the world."

What began at craft fairs as a simple business idea has developed into a highly successful company bringing the work of talented artisans from around the world to the United States to make them bigger names, bigger companies. Shahar says,

"I get a lot of pleasure from bringing the work of these very talented people to the United States, where they can do a great business. Everyone wins. Their businesses grow, my distribution business grows, and women look and feel absolutely beautiful in our jewelry!"