I was fortunate to be included in the June, 2015 article on women who begin a successful business from scratch, for the magazine A, the Style Guide, by Andares.
I am especially grateful for Nonatzin Martínez who interviewed me and wrote the article, and Luis Carillo, who came to my studio to take my picture.
For the full article in Spanish, visit their website. You can find the english translation below the image.
I am especially grateful for Nonatzin Martínez who interviewed me and wrote the article, and Luis Carillo, who came to my studio to take my picture.
For the full article in Spanish, visit their website. You can find the english translation below the image.
Musibatty is a jewelry brand that was born from the desire to create pieces that were like small sculptures, like "those jewels made by traditional artisans using fine metals that last for generations," shares the creator, who used to be a ceramist. A nomadic lifestyle inspired her to seek more portable materials with which to work with. Today she uses sterling silver recycled from photographic processes –to reduce the impact of modern day mining–, semi-precious gemstones, nickel-free bronze and brass, and, most recently, metal clay, a maleable paste that contains fine granulated silver which hardens when heated.
Her first pieces were made for personal use, but she always knew she wanted to make a living from what she loved to do. "I began almost six years ago, making only one-of-a-kind pieces that I built entirely by hand. During my fourth year, I made a serial collection, from which I hand-made the originals and cast the replicas in a local studio. For a whole year I would pick up the cast pieces and finish each one by hand in my studio. After a while, I realized that I do my best work as an artist making one-of-a-kind pieces, and that is all I do now."
For Musibatty, creating is a cycle that is completed when the work is shared with others, that is born from the imagination and culminates bringing beauty and power to others. Today her business is self sustaining. The formula for her success is to be present in all her live sale events, to design her own displays and build her website, as well as all her visual and online communication: "all the love I dedicate to each part of my business makes my brand very personal and recognizable. That is the main reason why my business is successful."
Another thing she does not lose sight of is the direct contact she has with each of her customers, as that interaction has allowed her to learn to communicate who she is and what she does. "When I work in my studio, I listen to many books on tape and podcasts on how to be an independent artist. I don't have a physical store and I try to keep a low overhead, and I don't lose time administering my business more than I have to." This has worked well for Musibatty, to the point where she now advises other designers and artists so they too have an outstanding presence in the current marketplace: that passion to create unique jewels, initially for her own use, is now a business and an example that inspires new entrepreneurs.
Her first pieces were made for personal use, but she always knew she wanted to make a living from what she loved to do. "I began almost six years ago, making only one-of-a-kind pieces that I built entirely by hand. During my fourth year, I made a serial collection, from which I hand-made the originals and cast the replicas in a local studio. For a whole year I would pick up the cast pieces and finish each one by hand in my studio. After a while, I realized that I do my best work as an artist making one-of-a-kind pieces, and that is all I do now."
For Musibatty, creating is a cycle that is completed when the work is shared with others, that is born from the imagination and culminates bringing beauty and power to others. Today her business is self sustaining. The formula for her success is to be present in all her live sale events, to design her own displays and build her website, as well as all her visual and online communication: "all the love I dedicate to each part of my business makes my brand very personal and recognizable. That is the main reason why my business is successful."
Another thing she does not lose sight of is the direct contact she has with each of her customers, as that interaction has allowed her to learn to communicate who she is and what she does. "When I work in my studio, I listen to many books on tape and podcasts on how to be an independent artist. I don't have a physical store and I try to keep a low overhead, and I don't lose time administering my business more than I have to." This has worked well for Musibatty, to the point where she now advises other designers and artists so they too have an outstanding presence in the current marketplace: that passion to create unique jewels, initially for her own use, is now a business and an example that inspires new entrepreneurs.
