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On June 21, 2024, we at Taipan Schmuck had the special pleasure of being featured on ZDF. The article dealt with the topic of jewelry and focused particularly on the often poor working conditions and problematic ingredients in cheap jewelry. It was explained in detail how many manufacturers resort to inferior materials and unfair working practices due to cost pressure.
Our part right at the beginning of the documentary dealt with the origins and cultural origins of the bling-bling fascination.
I founded Taipan Jewelry many years ago and was heavily influenced by hip-hop culture. The "chain game" was made a trend by rappers in the USA and eventually, like all trends, found its way to Germany. Jewelry is definitely a status symbol. For rappers from American ghettos, however, this has a completely different meaning than for me, who grew up in a tranquil German small town. Anyone who grew up in poverty in the ghettos of New York and managed to escape the ghetto through their music wants to celebrate their wealth. Nothing demonstrates excessive wealth more than spending $20,000, $50,000 or $100,000 on a diamond-studded necklace. An item that has no function or use whatsoever and is not a good decision from an investment perspective, as the resale value of diamonds is very low. It's all about displaying your newfound wealth - the absolute flex.
Musicians were influencers before the term even existed. After all, fans have always emulated their idols when it comes to fashion, and this also applies to jewelry. Of course, the average consumer cannot afford a $20,000 necklace and therefore resorts to cheaper alternatives. This is where we come in. Our jewelry is made of silver, which is a precious metal just like gold, but costs only a fraction of the price. While German rappers like Bonez MC from the 187 Straßenbande wear 18-carat gold plate necklaces for €20,000, we enable fans to wear the same necklace in silver for €200.
Our jewelry is no longer a niche product. With German rap being the most successful music genre in Germany, it is not surprising that rap culture is becoming mainstream and that people who are not necessarily the biggest hip hop fans are now wearing our jewelry.
We would like to thank editor Anna Fein and her team for their comprehensive and valuable reporting. It was a pleasure to be able to take part in the documentary and an exciting experience to work with a professional camera team.
We thank all of our customers for their trust and support. Your appreciation motivates us to do our best every day and make the world of jewelry a little better. Together we can make a difference - for the people who make our jewelry and for everyone who wears it.
Thank you to everyone who accompanies us on this journey!
Alex, founder of the Taipan brand
