Sourcing & Cultural Attribution Policy

PotomacBeads.com — owned and operated by Potomax Brands, LLC
Hagerstown, Maryland, USA
Last updated: June 21, 2026

What we believe

The bead industry has a transparency problem. Beads and findings are routinely sold under misleading descriptions: country-of-origin claims that aren't true, materials labeled as something they're not, and components marketed in ways that misappropriate Indigenous cultures.

PotomacBeads exists, in part, to be the opposite. This policy explains exactly what we do — and don't — sell, and how we describe what we sell.

What we do NOT sell

We do not sell, market, or list any product as:

• "Native American" jewelry, beadwork, or components
• "American Indian" jewelry, beadwork, or components
• Authentic to any specific Indigenous tribe, nation, or people (Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, Lakota, Cherokee, Iroquois, or any other)
• "Tribal" jewelry, where the word "tribal" implies Indigenous origin

This is true even when materials we sell (turquoise, certain bead types, certain stitches like peyote) have long traditions inside Indigenous communities. The materials are available to anyone; the cultural designation is not.

If you are looking specifically for genuine Indigenous-made jewelry, we recommend buying directly from Native artists or from organizations such as the Indian Arts and Crafts Board (iacb.doi.gov) and Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (swaia.org).

What we DO sell

We sell beads, crystals, findings, components, and DIY jewelry-making kits sourced from manufacturers around the world. Every item is intended for hobbyists, makers, and small designers to create their own jewelry, art, and craft projects.

Our products are sourced from named producers including (but not limited to):

• Czech Republic — Czech glass beads, fire-polished beads, pressed-glass beads, seed beads
• Japan — Miyuki and Toho seed beads, Delicas, drops, Tila beads
• Germany — Claspgarten clasps and findings
• United States — kits assembled in our Hagerstown, MD facility; some hand-made components
• China — selected findings, base metals, electroplated components
• India — selected gemstone strands, brass findings
• Other producers as listed in product descriptions

Country of origin: how we label

Every product listing on PotomacBeads.com is intended to accurately disclose its country of origin. We do not knowingly:

• Label a Chinese-made item as Czech, Japanese, German, or American
• Label an electroplated finish as solid metal, gold-filled, or sterling silver
• Use the word "inspired" or "style" to obscure where or how a product was actually made
• Use the words "Native American," "American Indian," "tribal-made," or any tribal name to imply Indigenous origin where none exists

If you find a listing on our site that misrepresents country of origin, material, or cultural attribution, please email service@potomacbeads.com so we can correct it immediately.

"Inspired by" — when we use it, and what it means

Some patterns, color palettes, or motifs we offer are visually reminiscent of styles found in many cultural traditions worldwide — including Indigenous American, African, Asian, European, and Middle Eastern beadwork. When a kit, pattern, or product is visually inspired by a broad design tradition, we may say so — but we will never describe such a product as authentic to a specific people or as made by members of that people.

The product, in those cases, is exactly what it is: glass beads (from Czech Republic or Japan, typically) assembled into a modern hobbyist project. The inspiration is acknowledgment, not appropriation.

Material accuracy

Beyond country of origin, we commit to accurate description of:

• Material — glass vs. plastic vs. resin; natural gemstone vs. dyed howlite vs. synthetic; sterling silver vs. silver-plated vs. silver-tone base metal
• Plating and finish — gold-plated, gold-filled, vermeil, and solid gold are different things, and we use the correct term for each
• Treatments — dyed, stabilized, reconstituted, heat-treated, and similar treatments will be disclosed when known

If a supplier provides incomplete information, we will say so in the listing rather than guess.

Suspect a listing is wrong?

Email hello@potomacbeads.com with the product link and what you believe is inaccurate. We will investigate, respond within 2 business days, and correct or remove the listing as appropriate. If you purchased an item that turned out to be materially different from its description, our returns and refunds policy applies.

Why this matters

Federal law — specifically the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (25 U.S.C. § 305 et seq.) — makes it illegal to falsely suggest a product is Indian-made, Indian-produced, or the product of a particular Indian tribe or organization. Beyond legal compliance, we believe that honest labeling is the foundation of a healthy hobby community. Customers can't make confident creative choices if they can't trust what's in the box.

Questions about this policy? Email hello@potomacbeads.com.

Policy maintained by Potomax Brands, LLC. Subject to update as our sourcing and product mix evolves.