Julia de Souza, designer/maker 

I started my jewelry career when my grandmother sent me (from Brazil) a lot of beads and video tutorials on how to make bijouterie, I was around 12. During summer break in high school, I decided to take over my dad’s property in Costa Rica (a storefront for rent), and sell accessories I would make.

While on my first year of Architecture, I founded my first accessories brand, SacarinaPOP, at age 18. I stayed in college for 5 years before deciding to learn how to make jewelry, so I could improve my skills. In 2012 I moved to NYC to attend Jewelry School and learn Silversmithing and Jewelry Rendering.

I also founded St.Desiderata at the end of the summer of 2012, I went back home (Costa Rica) and collaborated with amazing designer-friends for collections for Fashion Week and art exhibitions.

In 2015 I moved to Brasil for 8 months to reconnect with my other side and learn Jewelry Cad in Sao Paulo. After that I landed semi-permanently in the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

I’ve had the opportunity to work for independent jewelry designers that I admire, and during those times I helped in events like NYFW, designed private label and collaborated for pretty cool projects that are still out there.

After a lot of back and forth, I moved permanently to NY, to be with my now husband. I work from my private home studio in Ridgewood, Queens NY.

My Promise to Sustainability

Slow fashion/jewelry is part of my beliefs. Growing up in Costa Rica, there's no massive consumerism and a desire for a capitalistic business model, things are still handcrafted and repaired so they can be reused. Caring about the environment is part of my culture and the values I was raised in.

A slow fashion business model in Jewelry means not having big stocks of jewelry, overusing resources that will end up in mass sales. Most of my pieces are made to order, giving to the world only what it needs.  As having full control over the production of my jewelry I can overview the quality of each product, I test each design before sending it out to the world, this way I know its longevity and steps to fix each piece, I don’t want your jewelry to be seasonal but everlasting.

An artisanal production: All of my pieces are designed by me, casted in China Town, NY in a small scale workshop, and finished in my  studio. My stones are sourced from small dealers all around the world, including
the US.

My Creation Process

The process of creation and designing are very esoteric and holistic to me. I’m profoundly passionate about making, creating, drawing and collaborating with others. My mission is to represent stories and to project positivity through my jewelry designs.

I’m deeply inspired by my heritage, being Brazilian - Costa Rican opened my mind to two different cultures and experiences that formed who I am today and how I express myself through my art.

- Strive to be happy-