COMPANY PROFILE 33 When did you start up and why? I started my business in 2014 when I decided to give up my corporate banking career to do something more creative and meaningful – my true passion! For as long as I remember I have always loved fashion design. During my childhood, I designed my own earrings made from telephone wire and sold them to my school friends for pocket money. I would also design and make jewellery for my work colleagues, family and friends. Designing and creating is something that is an innate part of me and I always knew that I would eventually pursue this path. What prompted you to launch the business? When I realised that by designing and producing pieces made from my country’s unique and eco-friendly natural materials, I could have a positive impact on both the environment and also the local communities in Colombia. Also, having lived in London for many years, I wanted to combine the fashion of South America with British trends by creating designs that fuse the two together and reflect both the culture and heritage of my country as well as the style and influences of London. What challenges have you overcome since the company’s launch? When I started my business ethical and sustainable products were a trend that was just taking off, so we had to open up public perception on ethical and sustainable jewellery by creating fashionable designs with great quality and finishes, which gradually my customers embraced. Today more and more clients are demanding products that are good for our planet. Tell us about your product offering. Our collections introduce a material rarely seen in UK market, but which has been used for centuries in traditional South American jewellery making. I use vegetable ivory as the main material for my designs, a seed produced naturally by the Phytelephas Macrocarpa palm tree from the tropical rainforest of Colombia. Our collections include handmade necklaces, pendant necklaces, earrings, bracelets, keyrings, and broaches, all handcrafted from this amazing natural seed. What are your most popular products? Customers love our statement pieces because they are extremely light to wear and bold in
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