Smashing Darling Blog

Colombian born, Catalina De La Torre, began her career after moving to New England in the winter of 2002. Since then, her prodigious talents have won place in prestigious stores in Boston, Miami and overseas in Spain. Catalina’s career path portrays an artist, jewelry designer and entrepreneur whose vision, sense of style and attention to details will undoubtedly keep her in the vanguard of American jewelry design. Her singular expression is clearly influenced by her Latin roots and Boston’s progressive women’s style, an interesting mix of city chick, joyful and heritage. Catalina De La Torre believes in combining fashion with artistry and craftsmanship.

Trish: How did you get into jewelry design?
Catalina: When I moved to Boston, I’d love to go out and do ” people watching” Bostonian women are interesting, are a different mix , fashionable still conservative, in other words ” Urban chic”. Yet, a lot of the accessories were missing, things you see in NY or Europe. So, I started thinking about trendy yet classic accessories. This helped me a lot and I have always been into art.

Trish: When did you start your own line of jewelry?
Catalina: It was winter of 2004, I started designing small pieces with wire and semi-precious stones, then I ventured and went to a couple stores and they loved my pieces. They encouraged me, I left my job and started a full time business pursue.

Trish: Where did you study your craft?
Catalina: I went to Massart for jewelry classes, then I have been attending different institutions for metal smith classes and seminars, schools such as Metalwerx, Escola Masana Barcelona spain.

Trish: Where do you turn for inspiration for your designs?
Catalina: Bold and colorful. I like to mix metal and colors. I think the combinations are endless. Then I look into nature, urban women, fashion trends, I just let my imagination led me, keeping a fresh modern interpretation.

Trish: What fashion trends, if any, are influencing your jewelry?
Catalina: European fashion is a big influence, but then Boston Women and style help me shape my final jewels.

Trish: What does your average day entail?
Catalina: Well, I will say, in the mornings I returned phone call, order supplies/materials, then design, production, and filling orders, and by the end of each week I’m doing some paper work. When I’m getting close to one of the tradeshows, I just design and developed the new pieces for the next season.
Always during my day, I’m looking for new costumers, new prospects that will help my business grow.

Trish: Do you have a mantra that that gets you through the day?
Catalina: Is my company, I want to succeed, and I want to be recognized and to be part of every trendy women.

Trish: Do you ever get back to Colombia?
Catalina: Yes, I go once a year, sometimes more, One of my outsourcing companies is there.

Trish: How would you describe your personal style?
Catalina: I will say, ” Urban Chic”, I try to stick to well made basics that can take me anywhere, that includes jeans, boots with heels, and the accessories give you an easy way to incorporate trends with out becoming obsessed with them

Trish: And who or what influences that style?
Catalina: I will say the trend and the season ( winter, spring, summer or fall).

Trish: What is your fashion obsession of the moment?
Catalina: Handbags, I just love them, since I have the bussines I feel my traditional handbag is not enough and it hasn’t enough room for all my things, I’m always looking for a new trendy , colorful and comfortable handbag.