Tell us a little about yourself 👋
I’m Marisa, and the creator of Nembe.
A little about myself…
Born in the United States, when I was about six, we moved to Australia and settled here. I’ve worked in hospitality most of my life, predominately as a barista, as well as travelling in between whenever I could!
As long as I can remember I’ve enjoyed creating in some capacity, from drawing to sewing and more recently writing, my creative outlets have come in many forms.
I studied Fashion and Textile design, graduating in 2011 with an Advanced Diploma and loved every minute of the design process, developing my ideas and watching them evolve and come to fruition.
I think, my favourite part of creating is designing, just putting my ideas on paper and letting my mind wander in whatever way it will.
Exploring the world of metal has been one of the best creative outlets for me so far, I can’t wait to see where it takes me.
When did you launch your business? 🚀
2021.
What makes your products unique? 🤔
What makes us unique is that each product is completely one-of-a-kind and is not replicated (except for some earring styles). We pride ourselves in utilising the ‘slow-made’ method of producing, that is to say that nothing is mass-produced, with very little wastage remaining.
What was the inspiration behind launching your business? ✨
The idea for this business began with my love for working with metal and minerals. I wanted to offer completely bespoke artisanal jewellery and leathercrafts and to be able to showcase my work and the unique skill set I had acquired while travelling as well as the skillset of my Artisan partner.
This is an opportunity to educate people about ethical and sustainable consumerism. I am confident that in Australia there is almost nothing like the products I offer. My time overseas shaped me and my experiences, I want to convey that to my clientele.
What does a typical day look like for you? ⏰
I work weekends so weekdays typically look like:
Wake up between 7am and 8am, practice my Duolingo for about 30 min, eat breakfast then check my calendar to see what work and appointments I might have.
Head into the studio to finish or start whatever pieces I need to!
Midday try and head to gym then eat lunch. Do a breathing exercise (possibly a nap if the mood strikes) then back into studio.
If I have energy or there’s pieces that need to be finished I work a little later into the night
What are your top 3 tips for small business owners for running their business? 📝
- Engage in social media, be vulnerable! people like honesty and transparency
- Be patient! sometimes things take time to get rolling, but if it’s what you really want and you believe in what you do, everything will work out.
- Attention to detail; make sure even the little things are done right. People appreciate and notice.
What are your business goals for the future? 🎉
In the long term, I want my business to become well-known and recognised in the field of ‘slow fashion’ that is, to showcase and educate consumers more about the time it takes to create handmade products and the dedication that goes into it. I want my customers to know where their purchase comes from and so that they too can showcase it and have a story to tell.
Ultimately, I want to be able to live comfortably pursuing this field of work, to have a successful online platform that allows me to work from home and spend enough time in my studio creating and experimenting, which is what I love to do most. I hope to eventually incorporate more wearable sculptural art pieces and exhibit my work more formally. Soon, I hope to take on more artisan/s as well, as I enjoy being able to help other talented people, especially from economically difficult circumstances showcase their ability and support them financially.