“You can say creativity runs through my veins,” says Mirella Czapka as she talks us through the creative inspirations that fuel her truly distinctive eponymous jewellery brand. “My approach isn’t very common,” she adds. “I let myself be guided by my feelings, instincts, or my gut – whatever you want to call it. I listen to what feels right.”
A true original, Mirella designs and handcrafts every single piece in her collections, setting her apart from other mass-produced jewellery brands in the market today.
She says, “Everyone is special and unique in their own way, and that’s why I think the things you buy should be too. Having the opportunity to buy something almost no one else owns is so special and valuable, that’s why I create only one-of-a-kind pieces.”
In this women worldwide interview, we sit down with Mirella and talk about authenticity, uniqueness and how jewellery can be a visual statement for someone’s confidence. We also chat about the challenges and milestones she has achieved as a female entrepreneur, her advice for those looking to take the leap and start their own business, and why you should never doubt your own ideas and vision.
Tell us about the journey that led you to landing your brand Mirella…
It was kind of unexpected, yet at the same time expected. I grew up in a creative household. Both my parents are in the creative field and my sister as well. So, you can say creativity runs through my veins.
I always wanted to become a designer and to have my own brand. This was a dream I had since childhood. Back then I created various things for myself, like draping my clothes in a different way, but also creating pieces of jewellery.
During my studies I started designing and creating pieces of jewellery that I couldn’t find anywhere else. In the beginning I frequently got asked where I got my jewellery from. And the rest is, as they say, history, because since then I never stopped hand-crafting jewellery.
What’s the process behind launching a new piece?
My approach isn’t very common. I let myself be guided by my feelings, instincts, or my gut – whatever you want to call it. I listen to what feels right.
After design and implementation, I photograph all the new pieces. Afterwards, I start the naming process – another aspect in which my feelings come into play: I look at them and “feel” which name fits the most. That’s a very special part of my work. I take my time to name the pieces, it’s not just giving them random names I might like.
The next steps are writing the description for the pieces i.e., what materials I used, calculating the prices, and putting everything in my online shop. When everything is online, I let my followers and costumers know that new pieces are available.
What has been the biggest learning curve since launching the business?
Trusting my instincts and gut feeling.
Handmade, unique, and authentic are what you stand for. Why is this important to you?
I love special things and handmade pieces are special. Humans aren’t machines, therefore handmade pieces aren’t as perfect as their mass-produced counterparts, but that’s exactly what makes them special. I like the idea that my customers know that I am the person who created the piece they are wearing. This creates closeness and intimacy. It’s much more unique to really know where the things you buy come from, who invested their time, love, and effort in creating the piece.
People are different. Everyone is special and unique in their own way, and that’s why I think the things you buy should be too. Having the opportunity to buy something almost no one owns is so special and valuable, which is why I create only one-of-a-kind pieces or limit my jewellery to three or a maximum of ten pieces per design worldwide.
I want my customers to know that they have bought a special handmade piece that is designed and created by me and that only a couple of other people have.
As for authenticity – this goes hand in hand with everything I’ve just said. If you buy from me, you know that you buy a piece I crafted by hand, and you can be sure that I’m totally in line with what I’m selling. I genuinely design what I love, and that right there is what makes my brand authentic.
How do you want people to feel when wearing your jewellery?
I want people to feel special. I want them to feel good about themselves. They should love how they look. I want my jewellery to be the final touch. My jewellery should underline what’s already there. Wearing statement jewellery requires a certain level of self-confidence and that’s what I love most about it. Jewellery is like a visual statement of someone’s confidence, which is very powerful.
What makes Mirella stand out amongst other jewellery brands?
First, the designs. All pieces have a special ‘Mirella’ touch. I design my pieces to be a little bit different compared to what’s already out there. I design them to be very big, sparkly, and eye-catching. They are feminine, timeless and with a baroque touch to it.
Secondly, it’s very rare that the designer herself is truly designing and handcrafting every single piece. Not only that, I’m also the one who’s taking all the photos and creating the content for my social media. This alone makes me/my brand stand out. Because everything you see is something I created. I consider every little detail that make my brand very seriously. Not because I have no one to help me, but because it is important to me that I bring my vision to life at all levels. The keyword here is authenticity
If you to describe your brand in three words, what would they be?
Limited, handmade, sparkle
What advice would you offer to anyone wanting to become a jewellery designer?
Never doubt your ideas and visions. Even if it’s tough to become a success, do it anyways. You have a passion and gift, so please use it. No one else has to offer what you can bring to this world.
The fashion industry is so fast changing, what trends do you expect to see coming through in the next few years?
I think craftmanship is coming back in style. The pandemic and the need for fashion to be more sustainable has increased. People realised that they must take a step back from mass production. Creating pieces by hand ensures that there is no overproduction. It’s a more conscious way of creating. I also think that individuality is becoming more and more important. The urge to express yourself individually apart from fashion trends is growing bigger and bigger.
I think trends will always play a role, but I think this role isn’t going to be as big as it was in the past.
How would you describe your personal style?
My personal style is feminine but comfortable – always paired with some sparkling jewellery. For me the true power of style lies in the ability to make the most basic outfit special with some great accessories.
Talk us through an average day in your life…
This is kind of impossible because it’s always different.
I start to work as soon as possible after I am waking up. This usually means creating a new piece of jewellery or finishing one I already started working on. The only two things that are a given, are: eating my meals and walking my dog. Everything else I take as it comes. As a one-woman-business I need to be flexible, and every day might hold a surprising change of plans.
How much has social media played a role in the success of Mirella?
A big one. I honestly can’t imagine my world without it. It’s amazing, that you can connect with likeminded people and potential customers. I like that I can let them be part of my “Mirella” world. They can get to know me, what I love and gain a firsthand experience of what goes into each single piece I create.
Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?
I’m totally obsessed with English history. I read a lot of books about it, which is why I would love to visit all the places I haven’t seen yet.
What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?
That’s a tough one, because I love quotes and choosing one, is like only being able to choose one film or book, but if I had to choose it has to be “time to make the magic happen.”
What’s next for you and the brand?
I will continue to work and grow as much as possible. I want the world to be a more sparkling place and I hope that I can inspire many more people to be self-confident and just wear eye-catching jewellery. To achieve this, the next step is for my brand to become even more known internationally.
Where can people find out more?
The best place to start would be my homepage www.mirella.at from there you have links to my online shop www.mirellashop.at and my Instagram Account www.instagram.com/mirellajewellery
I invite everyone to follow my journey on Instagram, because there you can get to know me even better, get a look behind the scenes and immerse yourself in the world of Mirella.
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