In life, the most critical and profound moments often appear in the most unprecedented times. This is something that Katarina Viva can attest to. After all, the remarkable entrepreneur had a serendipitous experience in 2016 after creating an Etsy account to sell handmade jewelry. Several years later, what started as a simple hobby snowballed into a highly successful enterprise, Vivamacity.
The brand is known for its aesthetically pleasing products and fashionable designs. It offers exquisite, handcrafted jewelry such as rings, necklaces, and anklets. Depending on the style, these creations are infused with crystals, gemstones, and 925 silver. In addition to its usual selections, the venture also allows customers to personalize and customize their jewelry.
Aside from its gorgeous pieces, what makes Vivamacity stand out is its impressive commitment to creating high-quality products. The founder proudly shared that “99% of jewelry brands out there cannot guarantee no green fingers. We use the best quality 925 silver and a range of beautiful gemstones, handpicked specifically by our artisans from Ethiopian opal to rainbow moonstone, amethyst, and so much more.”
When asked what pushed her to create the brand, the CEO candidly answered that it was only by accident, saying that she never intended to start a company, but since she got her first order, she did a photoshoot with friends and added the products to the listings. She added that huge brands and sites even stole her designs. “I was so heartbroken I wanted to begin trying to grow, so I made a website. After that, I started growing on Instagram with influencer marketing that I taught myself,” she said.
Vivamacity has undoubtedly established itself as a powerhouse in the handcrafted jewelry industry. However, reaching this milestone was far from easy. Looking back on her journey, Katarina recalled being a 20-year-old dreamer with only $60 in the bank. Moreover, she did not receive emotional support from her family, who believed that the only way to secure a promising future was to go to college.
On top of that, she was struggling with anxiety and depression. As she described the experience, “The journey has been a huge horrible obstacle, to be quite honest. Lots of people are using you and losing fake friends.” Nevertheless, the resilient young woman pressed on.
In 2019, she finally pursued the brand as a serious life goal, and ever since the founder changed her mindset, her success exponentially grew. Despite still being a solo venture without the help of investors, it grew to over 600,000 followers in the first two years. As such, it was dubbed as one of the first few “Instagram” brands. In addition, Vivamacity and Katarina are also recognized for starting several groundbreaking trends in the jewelry industry worldwide.
Moving forward, the fantastic entrepreneur intends to continue creating stellar products and high-quality jewelry. But most importantly, Katarina hopes that her story of overcoming extreme adversity will inspire others, especially young women, to keep chasing after their dreams no matter how difficult the path may be.
