Meet Julia Founder & Creator of Bonito Jewellery
You may have spotted some delicate, feminine jewellery in our accessories collection recently and perhaps wondered where these beautiful treasures came from.
In Portuguese, Bonito means beautiful and aptly this is where this wearable art came from – Bonito Jewelery.
Transforming raw materials into wearable art, Julia the creator of Bonito Jewelery wants you to have the opportunity to ‘look good while doing good’. And this is where our business values align; we chose to connect with and support Bonito as they too are a values driven business. Bonito/Beautiful is the concept of Giving Back. For every $100 you shop with Bonito Jewelry they donate a backpack with school supplies to a child in need.
Bonito creates those unique pieces that will stay with you forever, complimenting any outfit.
Transforming raw materials into wearable art, Julia the creator of Bonito Jewelery wants you to have the opportunity to ‘look good while doing good’. And this is where our business values align; we chose to connect with and support Bonito as they too are a values driven business. Bonito/Beautiful is the concept of Giving Back. For every $100 you shop with Bonito Jewelry they donate a backpack with school supplies to a child in need.
Bonito creates those unique pieces that will stay with you forever, complimenting any outfit.
If it’s an ethical treasure trove of sparkles and delicate layers that you’ve been searching for, then look no further than Bonito.
Meet the Maker of Bonito - Julia
Meet the Maker of Bonito - Julia
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOU...
HOW DID YOU COME TO LIVE IN AUSTRALIA?
AND WHAT WAS THE CATALYST WAS FOR CREATING YOUR LITERALLY BEAUTIFUL JEWELLERY BRAND, BONITO.
I was living in Bali for a while, working as a volunteer for the Green School, and designing and creating Bonito Jewelry. Once the store was live, I decided to join my partner in Sydney and base the business from there. While living in Bali I felt in love with the creative process of jewelry making, and started designing and producing a few pieces with local jewellers. Once I received the first samples I decided to create the brand and sell these beautiful pieces to the world!
GIVING BACK IS AT THE HEART OF BONITO.
I was living in Bali for a while, working as a volunteer for the Green School, and designing and creating Bonito Jewelry. Once the store was live, I decided to join my partner in Sydney and base the business from there. While living in Bali I felt in love with the creative process of jewelry making, and started designing and producing a few pieces with local jewellers. Once I received the first samples I decided to create the brand and sell these beautiful pieces to the world!
GIVING BACK IS AT THE HEART OF BONITO.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PHILOSOPHY & WHY THE CAUSES YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO ALIGN WITH ARE DEAR TO YOUR HEART.
The main reason to go to Bali was to get involved with the alternative-education industry. I thought I wanted to start a school (which I still want to, but in the future), so I volunteered at the Green School to learn more about education and sustainability. In parallel, I created Bonito Jewelry and had the intention to add a giving back program to the business. I decided to combine my three passions: jewelry, education and sustainability. Since the first day of the brand, we have ran many different giving back programs, and we always chose to support projects worldwide that either educate people or help improve the environment. For example, during Black Friday 2018, we donated 5% of every sale to a project in India that educated women to become financially independent and to start their own business. In January and February 2020, for every purchase made, we planted a tree in the affected ares of the bushfires in NSW.
Currently, we have an ongoing program in which for every $100 spent, we give a backpack with school supplies to a child in need. We have donated over 1000 backpacks to children in Brazil and Indonesia. Running these programs is always very exciting and fulfilling. We know our impact is still small, but we have big plans for the future as the company grows!
The main reason to go to Bali was to get involved with the alternative-education industry. I thought I wanted to start a school (which I still want to, but in the future), so I volunteered at the Green School to learn more about education and sustainability. In parallel, I created Bonito Jewelry and had the intention to add a giving back program to the business. I decided to combine my three passions: jewelry, education and sustainability. Since the first day of the brand, we have ran many different giving back programs, and we always chose to support projects worldwide that either educate people or help improve the environment. For example, during Black Friday 2018, we donated 5% of every sale to a project in India that educated women to become financially independent and to start their own business. In January and February 2020, for every purchase made, we planted a tree in the affected ares of the bushfires in NSW.
Currently, we have an ongoing program in which for every $100 spent, we give a backpack with school supplies to a child in need. We have donated over 1000 backpacks to children in Brazil and Indonesia. Running these programs is always very exciting and fulfilling. We know our impact is still small, but we have big plans for the future as the company grows!
WHAT DOES YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU’RE CONCEPTING A NEW COLLECTION?
I look at three aspects when I’m designing a new collection:
1. What are our best-sellers/the designs our customers already love
2. What is the fashion trend of the moment: we read trend reports from Vogue, WGSN and other industry experts.
3. What is inspiring me: nature, animals, art, symbols, etc.
With these three aspects laid out, I’m able to design a collection that will sell well, call attention from the fashion industry, and be unique!
IF YOU’RE NOT WORKING, WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE WAY RIGHT NOW TO SPEND TIME ISOLATION?
My favourite way to spend time during this period, besides working, is to go explore nature with my partner and our dog. Some national parks and trails are still open, so we do our best to get amongst them. When I immerse myself in nature in times of stress and uncertainty, it gives me a different perspective to life. It makes me realise that life, as nature, is beautiful and chaotic, and we just need to love and be grateful to be a part of it!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO STAY HEALTHY AT HOME?
To stay healthy at home I exercise every day in the morning. I’ve been using an online app (sweat) that gives me different workouts that are easy to do at home. I’ve also tried to go for walks during the sunrise: there is almost no one outside and waking up very early makes me feel like I’m already having a great day!
I must admit I have been cooking and eating a lot more, but I always choose healthy recipes.
Shop pieces from Bonito Jewelery in our Accessories collection.
Or, view the full Bonito Jewelery range online here ✨
