How were your beginnings in the fashion world?
My professional career has always been focused on the world of fashion and marketing. I started like everyone else, working as an intern in a company in the bridal sector and from there I made the leap to a multinational in the watch and jewelry sector managing a brand of a leading international designer. In this company I grew professionally and I was able to understand the sector working with an incredible team.
After five years in the fashion world I decided to change. I was approached with a very interesting project and I didn't think about it. I learned and enjoyed a lot, but after a couple of years, I reflected on where I wanted to see myself in the future and I realized that I really wanted to return to work in what I liked the most: fashion.
I wanted to come back with a leap at a professional level and ISEM was the perfect ally to do so. The master's degree gave me the tools to grow in all those areas in which I had not had the opportunity to work, such as operations or finance, and to go deeper in those areas in which I already had experience. Thanks to everything I learned, I am currently working with my partner, Daniela Nastas, on our entrepreneurship project: RÊVER.
Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur? Why did you decide to become a jeweler?
The pandemic has put the focus around sustainability, social responsibility, irresponsible business practices... With the new scenario and having worked for different brands, we saw the opportunity of entrepreneurship and turning around a traditional sector by creating a digital native jewelry brand with purpose.
We have created a brand with a contemporary and minimalist style, but at the same time responsible and committed to each piece. We want to connect with consumers who, like us, are digital natives, love fashion and are committed to sustainability; to connect with those consumers who are currently disconnected with the sector because it has not adapted to their current needs.
We decided to go into jewelry because we saw the opportunity to bring a new model and grow. Both of us had already worked for brands in the sector and we loved it! Here we can do what we like the most, both related to the creative part linked to products, custom designs... As well as working on a strategy that will lead us to meet our goals. In addition, we work with exceptional raw materials and we have found the perfect team to make it possible.
What is RÊVER?
Jewelry has always connected with emotions and ideas, but we also believe it should transcend beyond aesthetics and design. RÊVER is our brand of purposeful jewelry created from responsibly sourced materials.
We believe in a future with more transparency, sustainability and conscious choices within the jewelry industry. That's why we create unique pieces from lab-created diamonds and recycled 18k gold that help us reduce our impact on people and the planet.
We differentiate ourselves from other brands not only for the design of the pieces, but because we are a responsible brand, more sustainable and this involves all the points that are connected to the brand, not only the final product. Our jewelry is created with responsibly sourced materials in Spain and for its delivery, we use FSC certified materials. At the operational level, we work with a made-to-order model to ensure minimum impact and avoid overproduction.
RÊVER has a strong commitment to transparency, could you tell us a little about this?
A year ago, we started working on RÊVER with a firm commitment to create a responsible project that would promote trust in the jewelry industry. We could only do this with a clear commitment to transparency.
This commitment embraces the entire production process of the pieces, from raw materials to delivery. We work with responsibly sourced materials to reduce environmental impact and guarantee the social rights of everyone involved. In addition, we are proud to produce all our jewelry in Spain by the hand of the best artisans with the utmost precision and attention to detail. Our production is made to order, with a maximum delivery time of 12 days, to promote responsible consumption. And finally, one of the key points in our commitment is that we do not work with intermediaries, this allows us to eliminate the margins characteristic of traditional brands and offer simple and honest luxury .
Where would you like to see RÊVER in a few years?
We would like the brand to have an organic and sustained growth over time. We want to be in the consumer's mind when they think of buying a piece of jewelry, a gift, and even for self-gifts! That will indicate that we have done well.
On the other hand, we want our value proposition to be sustained over time. We are aware that working towards sustainability is a journey of continuous improvement and, therefore, we will work to continue offering purposeful jewelry along the way.
In terms of academic training, how do you apply what you have learned in the master's program in your day-to-day work?
I apply what I learn at ISEM every day, an entrepreneurial project, in most cases, is linked to starting with a small team. Right now we are two people working on the day-to-day running of RÊVER and we are supported by the artisans who make our jewelry possible. This means that we have to do everything, both in the areas in which we have experience and in others in which we do not.
The master's degree gives you training in all the key points of the industry, which together with my experience, has allowed me to be able to launch this project.
How has the School accompanied you in your development and in your entrepreneurial journey?
Entrepreneurship" is in the air at the School. In my class I had classmates who had their own brands in the sector and we were constantly in contact with projects in the sector: through the case studies of the sessions or because the founder himself explained the project to us.
For RÊVER, ISEM has been there from day one. One of the first people we explained the project to was David Luquin. He directed my master's thesis in which we created a new company on paper and with RÊVER we had to follow the same path and this time, make it a reality.
I feel very grateful for the experience and for all the support we have received. When we started, we could have had the illusion of launching the project and not done it; but in my case, having completed the master's degree gave me the confidence to create RÊVER.
