Even for many who search to be the focal point, the highlight usually 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 intently 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 some of the well-known folks 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 grow to be a part of his lore. The 2 have 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 shops have lined each final one among Unhealthy Bunny’s strikes within the final 12 months, Berlingeri has immersed herself in her ardour undertaking — 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 at all times 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 constructing one thing your self, along with your arms, is wonderful.”
In her case, Berlingeri gravitated towards jewellery. “Plenty of folks say they can not sleep with their jewellery on, however I at all times sleep with them,” she says. “I get up, and even when I am not sporting anything, I will have my jewellery on me.”
Her curiosity solely elevated after she labored alongside an area jewellery designer and realized the way to craft items herself. In 2019, she started to plant the seeds for what would ultimately grow to be 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 lovely necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, and extra, all made in-house by Berlingeri and her group utilizing regionally sourced supplies.
Berlingeri says she has long-term concepts for collections however prefers to be impressed within the second on the subject of particular person designs. When requested how she comes up with them, she says: “It’s extremely random. I will 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 its Valentine’s Day assortment with items such because the Nabelle “Unicorn” Necklace, and a two-piece “Thelma and Louise” Necklace to share between greatest associates. This 12 months’s theme is devoted to self-love, wholesome friendships, and the vital bond between one’s thoughts, physique, and spirit whenever you start to deal with you. Final July, they dropped the Rhea Assortment, a line impressed by the colours of Puerto Rico’s pure basins, rivers, forests, and seashores. It was an concept that instantly sprang to Berlingeri only some months in the past. She determined to take a street journey across the island to search for additional inspiration. It reveals in quite a lot 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 symbolize not solely the inexperienced of the flora but additionally 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 lot of seaside inspiration earlier than, however this time I wished to incorporate extra of the rivers and forests. Puerto Rico is thought for its seashores, however we have now many lovely rivers and I wished to seize their colours.”
One other piece, the Casa Necklace, reveals a palm tree within the foreground and a mountain vary within the background, which displays a view many locals stay with day by day — the coast on one aspect and the central mountains on the opposite. As Berlingeri places it, “Plenty of folks will relate as a result of we’re a small island. Attending to a seaside will not be that arduous, 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 folks had gone their total lives with out leaving their cities. “There’s a lot of poverty in Puerto Rico, up within the mountains, greater than folks notice,” she provides. “There are households dwelling there who’ve by no means seen the ocean, they usually haven’t any manner [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 group of individuals she considers shut associates, together with head designer Shelby Díaz Esquerdo, who spearheads the waste-conscious One in every 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 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 targets.
“What’s most vital for me proper now’s sustaining myself comfortable and at peace,” she says. “It’s important to push by way of loads as a way to really feel nicely and secure. And I wish to create issues that fulfill me, and deal with 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 am in an period of: love your self! It is an awesome second to say, ‘I’ll 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 awesome second to say, ‘I’ll get this for myself,’ throughout this season of consumerism, [which was] created to make you spend cash,” she says. “It is an awesome alternative for somebody to consider themselves for the primary time and never take into consideration different folks.”
Increase D29 and making it profitable was precisely the sort of wholesome distraction Berlingeri wanted the final 12 months, including that it was “one hundred pc” a type of remedy for herself.
“I get [to the office] and I am comfortable. To me, getting right here frees me from every little thing else; it retains my ft on the bottom — busy,” she says. “Typically I’ve days off and assume, ‘What do I do?’ I do not wish to rely on 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 one among designer Coco Chanel’s well-known quotes goes, “Earlier than you allow 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 associates, and all for the sake of nobody however herself.