Gabriela Berlingeri’s D29 Jewelry Line Celebrates Self-Love

Even for many who search to be the focus, the highlight typically comes with a heavy worth. In a world the place gossip guidelines a lot of the mediasphere, even non-celebrities can find yourself caught up within the maelstrom of intense public consideration. Particularly in the event that they’re carefully related to somebody well-known and recognizable. Gabriela Berlingeri skilled that, and to a level only a few can relate to, throughout the time she dated some of the well-known individuals on the planet — Unhealthy Bunny.

The story of how Berlingeri and the Latin lure artist had an opportunity assembly and began up a relationship again in 2017 has turn into a part of his lore. The 2 had been collectively for a number of years and even collaborated on a handful of songs. She was even shouted out in “Acho PR,” a single off his newest album “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana.”

The main points of when and the way the connection ended have been stored near their chests, in tune with what was already a extremely non-public romance. And whereas media retailers have coated each final certainly one of Unhealthy Bunny’s strikes within the final 12 months, Berlingeri has immersed herself in her ardour venture — her jewellery line, DiciembreVeintinueve. Named after her delivery date, the model has additionally aided her in discovering new and wholesome views on self-love and life past a high-profile relationship.

Raised all her life within the beachy Isla Verde neighborhood of Carolina, Puerto Rico, Berlingeri has all the time counted herself as near nature. She describes her household as one crammed with “creators,” a trait that she feels proud to comply with.

“My grandmother makes stained glass, my dad designed all his tattoos, plus he loves portray. My aunt is an architect. My household has been fairly inventive,” Berlingeri tells POPSUGAR. “The act of creating one thing your self, together with your palms, is wonderful.”

In her case, Berlingeri gravitated towards jewellery. “A lot of individuals say they can not sleep with their jewellery on, however I all the time sleep with them,” she says. “I get up, and even when I am not sporting the rest, I am going to have my jewellery on me.”

Her curiosity solely elevated after she labored alongside a neighborhood jewellery designer and realized craft items herself. In 2019, she started to plant the seeds for what would ultimately turn into DiciembreVeintinueve (or D29, as it is also recognized). The model launched in November 2020 following pandemic-related delays, and since then it is churned out lovely necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, and extra, all made in-house by Berlingeri and her workforce utilizing regionally sourced supplies.

Berlingeri says she has long-term concepts for collections however prefers to be impressed within the second in terms of particular person designs. When requested how she comes up with them, she says: “It’s extremely random. I am going to sit down, go over what items I’ve at hand, placed on my AirPods, and begin linking them collectively. It is like constructing a puzzle.”

This month, D29 is releasing the Rhea Assortment, a line impressed by the colours of Puerto Rico’s pure basins, rivers, forests, and seashores. It was an concept that all of a sudden sprang to Berlingeri just a few months in the past. She determined to take a street journey across the island to search for additional inspiration. It exhibits in a wide range of the items — simply take a look at the inexperienced tourmaline stones that make up the collar of the Medare Necklace, which she factors out can signify not solely the inexperienced of the flora but in addition how river and ocean water can generally tackle a inexperienced hue.

“The stones we use in our collections are pure, semiprecious,” she shares. “I’ve had a number of seaside inspiration earlier than, however this time I needed to incorporate extra of the rivers and forests. Puerto Rico is thought for its seashores, however we have now many lovely rivers and I needed to seize their colours.”

One other piece, the Casa Necklace, exhibits a palm tree within the foreground and a mountain vary within the background, which displays a view many locals reside with day-after-day — the coast on one facet and the central mountains on the opposite. As Berlingeri places it, “A lot of individuals will relate as a result of we’re a small island. Attending to a seaside just isn’t that onerous, though I do know there are vicissitudes.” She recollects a information report she noticed as soon as about communities within the highest factors of Puerto Rico, the place individuals had gone their complete lives with out leaving their cities. “There’s a number of poverty in Puerto Rico, up within the mountains, greater than individuals understand,” she provides. “There are households dwelling there who’ve by no means seen the ocean, and so they haven’t any approach [to visit the coast].”

As she speaks candidly and enthusiastically about this assortment and future tasks, together with quickly increasing D29 to promote bathing fits, her pleasure is palpable. She’s surrounded by a devoted all-women workforce of individuals she considers shut pals, together with head designer Shelby Díaz Esquerdo, who spearheads the waste-conscious One in all One initiative, which reuses discarded parts to create one-of-a-kind jewellery items.

Berlingeri is aware of escaping consideration for whom she was with up to now will take some time, however she’s adjusted her life round what helps her ignore the noise and transfer ahead together with her objectives.

“What’s most vital for me proper now could be sustaining myself completely happy and at peace,” she says. “You must push via lots as a way to really feel properly and secure. And I need to create issues that fulfill me, and concentrate on my work.”

Berlingeri is placing that into the theme of her new line, too, framing it across the concept of getting her clients purchase Valentine’s Day presents for themselves.

“I am in an period of: love your self! It is an amazing second to say, ‘I will get this for myself,’ throughout this season of consumerism, [which was] created to make you spend cash.”

“I am in an period of: love your self! It is an amazing second to say, ‘I will get this for myself,’ throughout this season of consumerism, [which was] created to make you spend cash,” she says. “It is an amazing alternative for somebody to consider themselves for the primary time and never take into consideration different individuals.”

Increase D29 and making it profitable was precisely the form of wholesome distraction Berlingeri wanted the final 12 months, including that it was “100%” a type of remedy for herself.

“I get [to the office] and I am completely happy. To me, getting right here frees me from all the things else; it retains my toes on the bottom — busy,” she says. “Generally I’ve days off and suppose, ‘What do I do?’ I do not need to rely upon anyone to make plans.” Proper now, she likes to go to the seaside by herself; she is aware of particular spots the place she will be able to have privateness, keep away from overeager followers, and easily benefit from the surf.

That is what this entire period is about for Berlingeri: specializing in herself, what brings her pleasure, and what makes her excited concerning the future. And that is by no means an excessive amount of.

Though certainly one of designer Coco Chanel’s well-known quotes goes, “Earlier than you permit the home, look within the mirror and take one factor off,” Berlingeri begs to vary. “I am sorry to Coco Chanel, however extra is extra,” she laughs. Extra work, extra happiness, extra time with pals, and all for the sake of nobody however herself.