Meet Maria Teresa Tupini | Jewelry Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maria Teresa Tupini and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria Teresa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always had a passion for designing and creating beautiful pieces of jewelry. I started at a very young age, making beaded necklaces and bracelets. My goal when starting Del Este was to create a brand that is meaningful and impactful, and to use my skills and passion to make a positive impact.

For me, jewelry is a form of art and expression. It is extremely valuable as jewelry has an emotional aspect to it. Jewelry that is passed on throughout generations, that tells the story of a lifetime.

Whether it’s a gift from a loved one or an everyday piece, I was always inspired by the idea that my designs would go on to become a part of our customer’s story, and be with them during life’s special moments.

Through our pieces, we seek to give a sense of empowerment and inspiration to those who wear our designs. When starting my brand, it was and continues to be my mission to convey a sense of effortless, everyday elegance for everyone who wears Del Este Jewels.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Del Este Jewelry is committed to craftsmanship, quality and sustainability. Our story began with a passion for creating unique and meaningful jewelry pieces and I am so proud to have brought this dream to life. We pour our hearts into each piece, ensuring our designs are not only beautiful but also ethically made. At Del Este, we believe in using sustainable materials and practices, sourcing our gemstones and metals responsibly, and supporting local artisans. We are very proud to design and produce our pieces in Miami, FL.

One of the challenges we faced was establishing ourselves in a competitive market. We had to find our unique voice and differentiate ourselves from other brands. Through dedication and perseverance, we connected with our loyal customer base who appreciates our commitment to quality and sustainability. We are the most proud when we see our customers wearing our designs.

We have learned a great deal along the way, one of the most important things being to always remain true to our values and always remain committed to our work. Our customers inspire us every day to continue bringing new pieces to life and to continue looking for ways to enhance our craftsmanship.

What we want the world to know about Del Este Jewelry is that our brand is built on integrity, authenticity, and a genuine love for our craft. We strive to create jewelry that brings beauty and empowerment to the wearer. We are excited to continue our journey, sharing our designs with the world and making a positive impact on the jewelry industry.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Miami has so much to offer and so many beautiful places to explore. There are also a lot of exciting events going on all year around: from Art Basel in December, to Miami Swim Week in July. This past Swim Week, we showcased our newest “Miami Collection” at the Perez Art Museum (PAMM). There is always something exciting going on in our beautiful city.

Besides taking them to our beautiful beaches, some of the places on the top of my list would be the Design District, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables and Brickell. I would recommend they spend an afternoon walking around the stunning Vizcaya gardens. Lastly, I would also make sure they don’t leave before visiting the Historic Dupont Building in downtown Miami, where the Del Este magic comes to life!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my family. Specifically I would like to mention my grandmother and namesake, Maria Teresa Tupini Sr,, who inspired my latest collection that will be launching this fall, the MTT Heirloom Collection. I always admired her timeless style. Having a noteworthy collection of personal jewels, she was a very big influence in my passion for jewelry design. Our upcoming collection is a modern take on some of her stunning vintage Italian jewelry pieces.

Website: www.shopdeleste.com

Instagram: @shopdeleste

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopdeleste

Image Credits
Polina Vilkova