When her younger sister asked her whether she could make a vegan “leather” bracelet, jewelry designer Melissa Evans was up for the challenge. It had been three years since she’d quit her corporate job to focus on her eco-conscious jewelry startup, @gemlounge, and she was putting in 60 to 80 hours a week growing her brand. It wasn’t long before Evans found the material that would become a mainstay of Gem Lounge and help land her company on the shortlist for TV’s Shark Tank: cork. Not only is cork vegan-friendly but also hypoallergenic and waterproof, and when the bark of a cork oak tree is properly harvested, it doesn’t kill the tree. Evans, who prides herself on running a green company, was instantly hooked. Read more about the featured Maine maker at the link in our bio. . #DownEastShop #MaineMakers #GemLoungeJewelry #MadeInMaine #DownEastMagazine #MaineMade #MaineJewelry #VeganJewelry #CorkJewelry #SustainableFashion #RaymondMaine #MaineNecklace #CorkBracelet