Describe yourself and your designs to us?

I've always been drawn to the beach. After moving to Australia from Argentina at a young age, what helped me adapt to the new life was the beach itself. I’m now always close to the beach. Most designers can agree that it's very easy to find inspiration in nature. For me, it's the forms and patterns found within coastal fringes that inspire my work. My jewellery pieces are created embracing these organic formations. For that reason, none are perfect, there are a lot of unique textures and shapes within my collection. I try to embody some coastal aspect in every piece, wether it be the flow of water, texture of waves or the forms of sand stone cliffs.

WHEN WAS LUNERA BORN AS A BRAND?

I studied Jewellery Design at UNSW Art & Design, during one semester we were taught jewellery making with the lost wax casting technique. Instantly, I was blown away with how I could create such free-flowing organic forms and irregular shapes that aren't normally seen when working with metals. This is when my first pieces for Lunera were born. The Ripple and Drip rings were the first items I ever created and sold. They instantly received such praise from those around me that I knew this could become something bigger, giving me the push I needed to begin to work towards developing a collection and cultivating a brand.

What is a stand out moment in shaping LUNERA?

During a holiday I was spending my days at the beach ad I collected a few pieces of sea glass. Once I returned home I wanted to do something with these special finds to create a piece to remind me of my time at the beach. That's how my first Seaglass Hoops were made. I've alway been a beach comber, whether it be collecting little treasures along the sand or picking up pieces of rubbish left at the beach. So I took my big collection of sea glass and began selecting pieces to turn into pairs of Seaglass Hoops as gifts for friends. This was a very important moment in shaping my brand as I feel the Seaglass Hoops tie in with everything Lunera aims to be, sustainable, unique and coastal inspired. The Seaglass Hoops are by far my best sellers. What I love most about them is no two are the same, each pair is completely unique and no matter how hard I search I'll never find a piece that is identical to the other.

What excites you about the year ahead?

I'm excited to keep working on new designs and launch a new summer collection! I've been working hard to perfect some new pieces and continue cultivating a collection which resonates with the brand. Most importantly, I'm working towards expanding my range to include some unisex pieces, which means a few bigger and bolder designs! In addition to this, I'm working towards making the brand as a whole more sustainable. Even though Lunera is a small business, I want to do my best to reduce the amount of impact we have on the planet, from manufacturing, all the way to how I package and ship orders. So I'm excited to see where that may lead the brand's identity.

What do you love to do most to recharge or relax?

Go to the beach of course! Nothing is more relaxing that spending an entire day soaking in the sun, going in and out of the water, lazing around with a group of friends.

What advice do you have for emerging designers?

My biggest advice would be to stay true to your individual brand. What I found hardest during university and in the design world is not letting criticism, as well as advice, take me away from what I really wanted to be making. Having your own brand, means exactly that, it is YOURS. Yours to show off your own individual style and persona. As corny as it may sound, nothing pays off more than just being you.