Nashira Arno, Jewelry Designer and Entrepreneur
Nashira Arno is a designer of jewelry, garments, and objects. She is an entrepreneur, creative consultant, and humanitarian. She is a woman who has harnessed her curiosity and passion into the constant pursuit of creating beautiful, harmonious designs and art. Her namesake collection, Nashira Arno Jewelry, has been featured in numerous design and fashion publications such as Ignant, Vanity Fair, and Glamour UK.
Growing up in the Dominican Republic, with glittering oceans surrounding her, Nashira always felt connected to the beauty and seduction of nature. As a child, she spent time climbing trees, watching the stars, and swimming in the ocean. She believes her depths of creativity and curiosity were nurtured by being raised in such a beautiful land. She ultimately decided to follow her inherent need to create and went on to study visual communications and graphic design in her hometown city of Santiago. She continued to study fashion design at Altos de Chavon School of Design located in La Romana.
After graduating, she moved to New York to pursue a career in fashion and went to work for several notable fashion brands but ultimately found herself gravitating towards jewelry design. Nashira next pursued employment with a few renowned jewelry companies where she accumulated broad experience managing the conceptualization, design, and product development of jewelry and other accessory products in both the luxury and mass-market fashion industries.
In 2016, Nashira launched her eponymous line of jewelry, for the cultured, independent, and modern women who appreciate design, quality, and uniqueness over brand labels. Thinking of every piece as an objet d'art her aesthetic is ethereal yet modern. Nashira’s jewelry fully expresses her reverence for gemstones by refining these natural elements out of their rawness without sacrificing their essence.
Her newest collection “Sol is inspired by the planets of the solar system, in particular the star at the center, the burning sun. Again, Nashira returns to her home and childhood for inspiration, specifically her nostalgia for the endless sunny days experienced on her native island
The launch of her jewelry line also organically evolved into a mission-based project committed to advocating for sustainability in fashion and advancing traditional craft methods. Her pieces are ethically made in partnership with independent artisans in small-scale workshops, often empowering women and creating jobs for minority communities. Nashira has since been involved with not-for-profit organizations and global initiatives that support and accelerate a holistic approach to fashion in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the United States.
As a passionate global traveler, her eyes opened wider to the world and the responsibility that she believes we all have to create ethically with less impact on the planet and to preserve the beauty that already is. She became more passionate about using her work as a medium to advocate for good and to celebrate all the beauty that has already been gifted to us.
Drawing inspiration from life experiences, Nashira approaches her work as art. With timeless simplicity and feminine play in mind, she creates pieces as modern relics. Her purpose is to honor nature by not only drawing inspiration from it but most importantly following practices that are environmentally and socially friendly. She is changing the narrative of what design looks and feels like. With these worthy aspirations, Nashira’s work embodies not only beauty and confidence but also encapsulates messages of hope, grace, and rebirth. She inspires us to live with an undeniable trust in the beauty of ourselves and the world we are all capable of creating around us.
What is your secret to living a high-vibrancy life?
Gratitude! I’d say that approaching every day in life with gratitude is the key to living in high-vibrancy. Along with gratitude, what works for me, is surrounding myself with beauty and finding the things that I most enjoy doing and doing in them often. My work is one of those things.
I see life as an experiential gift unique to me (and each of us) meant to be explored, enjoyed, and fulfilled.
Who is a woo woo working woman that you admire and why?
I have great respect and admiration for ALL self-empowered women who, regardless of their background or role within society, dared to be unapologetically themselves, claimed their space, and went after what they wanted.
AOC, for example, is someone who has wowed me recently and who has also made me feel very proud of my generation. I think her ability to see beyond all the invisible boundaries we, as women, face within the systems of society is undeniably changing the narrative and laying new ground for generations to come.
How do you balance work, wellness, and spirituality?
In my opinion, balance is perpetually a work in progress. And leading with intention is most important for staying in it. I know that I do better when I feel better and that I feel better when I do better. Knowing this cycle, I always try to approach everything, whether it is work or play, with purpose and set intentions. Being honest with my purpose and my intentions helps me move through the noise, see my priorities clearly, and commit my energy to what’s important. In short, the times my work, my wellness practices, and my spirituality are all working towards the same destination is when I feel the most balanced.
Doing weekly check-ins with myself to tweak my schedule accordingly whenever possible, and starting my mornings with an hour of dedicated self-care to make sure my glass is full before diving into the sometimes endless workday are things that help keep me in balance.
Was there any one significant event that moved you onto the path of becoming the woman you are today?
I’ve always seen my life as a series of happy accidents and thought of every big or seemingly small event as a stepping stone or lesson into becoming the woman I am today and the woman I’ll continue to become.
Most recently, becoming a co-guardian and maternal figure to a 6y/o girl while indefinitely being an ocean away from my parents. Also pivoting my business throughout a global pandemic has been sobering, empowering, and a huge lesson in confidence and self-trust.
Personal mantra?
Be you and where you are. Too often we tend to obsess over our ideas of the future in a way that we forget to be in the present. And the only way to enjoy the present is to be in it. I have big dreams and this serves me as an important reminder to savor all my small wins.
The aesthetic and style of your designs are exquisite. What did the path to discovering your passion for jewelry and design look like?
My path to discovering my passion for jewelry and design has been anything but linear. And my work is a result of the many detours I’ve taken to follow my curiosity and explore my multiple passions. Every job I’ve had has been like a school that also paid me.
I grew up as an academic dancer in a small town on a small island. I was always fascinated by the arts and my hobbies consisted in studying other different art forms like photography, illustration, painting, and sculpture. I also spent a lot of time in nature, climbing trees, watching the stars, and swimming in the ocean. I’ve always been fascinated with color and form so I went on to study visual communications and later on, fashion design.
Entering the workforce, I never knew exactly what I wanted to do and I made it a point to spend my early career years exploring different creative paths. My first job in the field was as an assistant designer for a Brooklyn-based haute-couture designer who dressed personalities like Lady Gaga. Then I went on to design prints and textiles for a renowned luxury fashion house, and later on joined the team as design director at a sustainable swimwear brand which I know now was ahead of its time.
Simultaneously, I always love getting involved in odd projects –like working with photographers and stylists doing fashion illustrations and storyboards for fashion campaigns. I fell into jewelry because the swimwear startup failed and a friend (whom I’m very grateful to) in jewelry hired me as a freelancer. At the time, I thought of the opportunity as a temporary thing, but it turned out to be like love at first sight.
Working for a massive jewelry manufacturing company leading the design team for multiple mass market licensing and private labels I got to wear many hats. I learned to adapt my design aesthetic to widely different audiences and price points, I sat in sales meetings, I visited suppliers across the world, I negotiated with factories, I created launching campaigns, etc. This was a hands-on school for me, and a lot of the information that I absorbed from it later defined the type of work I'm doing today. My biggest takeaway was the environmental pollution and waste caused to sustain mass market business. Second, there is a disconnect between the tangible end product and its source, especially those who made it.
Through my work, I want to honor nature by not only drawing inspiration from it but most importantly following practices that are environmentally and socially friendly.
What are the skills or attributes you believe have supported you in having a successful career and company?
I think, above all, having a strong community. It takes a village to be successful in career and business and I attribute most of my successes to the people around me. Those who, in one way or another, have supported me along the way.
What do you wake up looking forward to in your work?
Every day looks different but I’m always looking forward to seeing new projects, and pieces, coming from paper to life.
How do you handle new projects or initiatives that you haven’t had experience handling before?
This is a question that is often in front of me. I’m extremely resourceful when it comes to getting things done. I focus on battling impostor syndrome, while also being realistic on what I can take on and what is not for me to carry. I often rely on my team, my mentors, and my network to draw expertise and guidance to help me navigate through the parts I’m least experienced about.
How would you advise someone with a love for jewelry and design to start working towards bringing that passion into something tangible?
There’s a quote along the lines “there are people less qualified than you that are doing the things you want to do because they decided to believe in themselves”. I often repeat this to myself. My best advice is to get out of your ownway and start wherever you are. A more practical set of advice:
First and foremost find your clarity. Be both analytical and intuitive in defining WHAT is it that you want to create or accomplish (your vision) and WHY (your mission) and stick to that. Be flexible with everything else.
Find your mentors. Surround yourself with people who can support and guide you towards your goal.
Be resourceful, pay attention, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
Find the individuals, organizations, and institutions that work towards accelerating the kind of work you want to bring forward and get involved. There are often resources and opportunities available that could be your stepping stone. I’ve both benefited from and also supported multiple creative businesses in the seeding phase through Nest.
On Instagram, you mention learning a new method of strategic planning that changed your life. Can you please share more info?
Organization is probably one of the most valuable skills for me as an entrepreneur and I am always exploring ways to work better over working hard. At the beginning of the year, I took a strategic planning workshop with award-winning coach Marina Romashko. She taught me how to create a customized personal road map for the year based on my vision, priorities, intentions, and chronotype. Being able to organize and plan my personal and professional priorities under the same umbrella has been life-changing.
Do you follow any specific doctrines on diet and fitness?
I treat my body as my temple and believe in beauty from the inside out. I’m passionate about food as medicine and my diet is plant-based. I’m always exploring natural resources and paying attention to what works and what makes me feel best. I meditate and I try to move my body daily. Sometimes movement can be a long walk to a meeting, yoga, a virtual fitness class, or dancing through my apartment. Lately, I’ve been doing Pamela Reif's 30-minute workout plan in the middle of my day and it’s become a favorite.
Do you have any routines or rituals that help you stay focused and grounded?
Daily meditation and my morning self-care hour are non-negotiables.
How do you reset after a challenging day?
By listening to my body and giving myself what I’m most needing at that moment. A quick fix is a hot/cold shower, exercise, a good dance or swim session, or quality time with a good friend.
How does one bring an emphasis on mindfulness and wellness into their everyday lives?
I think living mindfully is a personal choice. Once you commit to living to the best expression of yourself, you’ll find ways to bring mindfulness and wellness into your everyday life.
What would the title of your autobiography be?
Heal your life with spice or Mujer Sirena
Favorite spots in and around NYC?
With limited options of places to be and things to do in NYC in the past 6 months, I’ve been spending a lot of time in nature outside of NYC. Mostly out around the Catskills or out east in Montauk or Greenport, taking scenic routes, discovering new hiking trails, and exploring all the beaches. My go-to favorite spots in the Catskills to stay are Easwind and Scribner’s. And the Halyard in Greenport. And some of my favorite destinations right outside NYC: Art Omi, Phoenicia Dinner, Blue Hill Farm, and Shinn Estate Vineyards.
In my free time, when I have any, you can usually find me __________.
Recharging in nature probably near the water, on the road with my family, working on a “coming soon” project, hunting the internet for vintage classic pieces to add to my “capsule wardrobe” and/or volunteering my time to coach and support artisan business.
Most people don’t know that I really enjoy_________?
Dancing and writing poetry.
Favorite motivational Instagram account, podcasts, and/or books?
I go to Instragam mostly for inspiration, and these are some accounts I love: @ignant, @somewheremagazine, @c_l_o, @vianasoleil, @sophiepinet, @juliepelipas, @nowness, @equator, @pierrot, and the list is endless.
My favorite motivational podcasts are The Good Podcast, Super Soul Conversations, The Happiness Lab, Second Life, How I Built This, and The Line Podcast.
Some of the books I’ve recently read and found motivational: Becoming by Michelle Obama, The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedman, Use Your planets wisely by Jennifer Freed, Ask Me About My Uterus by Abby Norma, and Visionary Women by Andrea Barnet.
I’m also always reading about the ocean and the environment. My favorites are Silent Spring by Rachel Carlson and anything by Naomi Klein.
Go to healers or practitioners for beauty, health, and wellness?
My absolute go-tos in NYC are:
Giovanna Kapsi at WellNest – who’s become my life coach, for the mind and heart.
Giovanny Jorge at Hair Repair Bar – nobody understands hair like Gio and their signature essential oil scalp treatments are like a facial for your hair.
Dr. Tim Klent and Yinova Center – are my go-tos for alternative medicine and integrative wellness.
Skincare by Rochelle –for the best, understated facials.
What is the greatest gift you can give yourself?
Dedicated me time
Advice to the Woo🖤Wooo Working Women out there figuring out how to live their best high-vibrancy life?
Trust yourself. Best advice ever given to me.
