Gabriela Berlingeri’s D29 Jewelry Line Celebrates Self-Love

Even for individuals who search to be the focal point, 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. Especially 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, through the time she dated one of the well-known individuals on the planet — Bad Bunny.

The story of how Berlingeri and the Latin lure artist had an opportunity assembly and began up a relationship again in 2017 has develop into a part of his lore. The two 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 particulars of when and the way the connection ended have been stored near their chests, in tune with what was already a extremely personal romance. And whereas media retailers have lined each final one among Bad Bunny’s strikes within the final yr, Berlingeri has immersed herself in her ardour undertaking — her jewellery line, DiciembreVeintinueve. Named after her beginning 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 full of “creators,” a trait that she feels proud to observe.

“My grandmother makes stained glass, my dad designed all his tattoos, plus he loves painting. My aunt is an architect. My family has been quite creative,” Berlingeri tells POPSUGAR. “The act of making something yourself, with your hands, is amazing.”

In her case, Berlingeri gravitated towards jewellery. “Lots of people say they can’t sleep with their jewelry on, but I always sleep with them,” she says. “I wake up, and even if I’m not wearing anything else, I’ll have my jewelry on me.”

Her curiosity solely elevated after she labored alongside an area jewellery designer and realized how you can craft items herself. In 2019, she started to plant the seeds for what would finally develop into DiciembreVeintinueve (or D29, as it is also identified). The model launched in November 2020 following pandemic-related delays, and since then it is churned out stunning necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, and extra, all made in-house by Berlingeri and her staff utilizing domestically sourced supplies.

Berlingeri says she has long-term concepts for collections however prefers to be impressed within the second relating to particular person designs. When requested how she comes up with them, she says: “It’s very random. I’ll sit down, go over what pieces I have at hand, put on my AirPods, and start linking them together. It’s like building a puzzle.”

This month, D29 is releasing the Rhea Collection, a line impressed by the colours of Puerto Rico’s pure basins, rivers, forests, and seashores. It was an concept that all of the sudden sprang to Berlingeri only some months in the past. She determined to take a highway journey across the island to search for additional inspiration. It exhibits in a wide range of the items — simply have 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 natural, semiprecious,” she shares. “I’ve had lots of beach inspiration before, but this time I wanted to include more of the rivers and forests. Puerto Rico is known for its beaches, but we have many beautiful rivers and I wanted to capture their colors.”

Another piece, the Casa Necklace, exhibits a palm tree within the foreground and a mountain vary within the background, which displays a view many locals dwell with each day — the coast on one facet and the central mountains on the opposite. As Berlingeri places it, “Lots of people will relate because we’re a small island. Getting to a beach is not that hard, although I 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 total lives with out leaving their cities. “There’s lots of poverty in Puerto Rico, up in the mountains, more than people realize,” she provides. “There are families living there who have never seen the ocean, and they have no way [to visit the coast].”

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

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

“What’s most important for me right now is maintaining myself happy and at peace,” she says. “You have to push through a lot in order to feel well and stable. And I want to create things that fulfill me, and focus on my work.”.

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

“I’m in an era of: love yourself! It’s a great moment to say, ‘I’m going to get this for myself,’ during this season of consumerism, [which was] created to make you spend money.”

“I’m in an era of: love yourself! It’s a great moment to say, ‘I’m going to get this for myself,’ during this season of consumerism, [which was] created to make you spend money,” she says. “It’s a great opportunity for someone to think about themselves for the first time and not think about other people.”

Building up D29 and making it profitable was precisely the form of wholesome distraction Berlingeri wanted the final yr, including that it was “100 percent” a type of remedy for herself.

“I get [to the office] and I’m happy. To me, getting here frees me from everything else; it keeps my feet on the ground — busy,” she says. “Sometimes I have days off and think, ‘What do I do?’ I don’t want to depend on anybody to make plans.” Right now, she likes to go to the seaside by herself; she is aware of particular spots the place she will have privateness, keep away from overeager followers, and easily benefit from the surf.

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

Although one among designer Coco Chanel’s well-known quotes goes, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off,” Berlingeri begs to vary. “I’m sorry to Coco Chanel, but more is more,” she laughs. More work, extra happiness, extra time with pals, and all for the sake of nobody however herself.