Inside the Studio with de rosario

In a tucked-away studio in Shoreditch, soft coils of wax begin to take shape in Rosario Perez Lopez’s hands. The wax warms and shifts under her touch, slowly becoming the earliest trace of a ring, a pendant, a form in motion.

This is where de rosario begins: in the quiet moments where intuition takes over and the shape reveals itself. “It’s like a kid playing with clay,” Rosario says. “The heat of your hands becomes part of the sculpture.”

On the bench beside her, there are walnuts, leaves, and stones—fragments of nature that guide her process. Her approach favours process over polish—each form shaped by feel, not formula.

From history to hands-on

Rosario, founder of de rosario jewellery

“I studied art history and I meant to teach history at university,” Rosario says. But as she advanced through her master’s, something shifted. "I realised I had to do something else."

That realisation would mark the beginning of a winding and instinctive journey toward creative independence. After moving to London in 2009, Rosario found herself working in fashion retail. She quickly moved up—first into visual merchandising, then into commercial roles that had her opening stores and travelling constantly.

“It was crazy,” she says. “I was working all the time, travelling all the time.”

Then came COVID. Everything paused. “I realised how crazy my life had been since I was super young,” she reflects. “I think I was 38 at the time... I couldn’t do that anymore.”

The creative urge had been with her for years, even if it remained on the back burner. “It was something inside you that never... that you don't believe you can do,” she says. For the first time, she allowed herself to listen to it and take it seriously.

Learning the craft

Jewellery had long been a quiet pull in Rosario’s life. “Whenever I travelled, I’d go out of my way to find a local jeweller—someone I’d researched in advance—and spend the day with them,” she recalls. “In Mexico, I chose stones and designed a ring side by side with a maker I admired. In Colombia, I did the same.”

Back in London, she formalised her training at the British Academy of Jewellery, where she learned the foundational techniques: how to saw, solder, file, and cast. “It wasn’t about creativity at that stage—it was about learning how to make things properly,” she says.

At home, she began applying what she’d learned—refining her skills with stones and pearls, often gifting early pieces to friends.

At the same time, Rosario was exploring more personal forms of creative unblocking. “I started doing therapy and working through this book by Julia Cameron,” she says, referencing The Artist’s Way. It became part of the broader shift in how she approached creativity—more intuitive, more internal, and more self-directed.

The value of community

Eventually, a friend introduced her to a shared artist space in Shoreditch. “It was the first really important step,” she says. “To share a studio with other jewellers and sculptors. To properly learn about the profession.”

Over time, the studio became more than a place to work—it became a collaborative force behind her creative growth. “It was a big support,” she says. “People in the studio help me with technical parts of production when things aren’t clear.”

She credits this environment with pushing her forward. “You need someone that is really, really good... good photographers, creative directors, people who can help express your aesthetics,” she explains. “You can’t do it alone.”

Alongside her own creative work, Rosario collaborates closely with a small team of trusted creatives. Among them is a longtime friend and graphic designer who has helped shape the brand's visual identity across everything from photography direction to the website and pop-up materials. “I make the jewellery, but he really helps bring it into the world visually,” she says.

The language of design and staying true

Rosario’s collections are deeply influenced by the natural world and the idea of fluidity. Her first collection, Grama—meaning “branch” in Spanish—was grounded in the tactile. “I was thinking, if I’m not going to use stones, I’m going to work really well with texture,” she explains. “You collect leaves and walnuts, things with interesting surfaces.”

She sculpts each piece in wax before casting it into metal, often working with a flexible Japanese wax that lets her form shapes by feel. “It’s super free. You don’t have to be super conscious about it,” she says. “It’s more like me connecting with my hands.”

Even her simplest bands carry a sense of movement. “I think I’m obsessed,” she laughs. Even her simplest bands have a lived-in feel—subtle imperfections, softness, and flow.

And living in East London stirs her imagination. “I see people wearing amazing outfits... I go to fashion events and start imagining,” she says. “It comes from both nature and people.”

She’s also thoughtful about where jewellery is heading. While Rosario keeps an eye on emerging movements—from AI-generated forms to the revival of heirloom-style rings—she’s clear about what grounds her. “I don’t use 3D printing,” she says. “Everything is made using old-school techniques.” Her pieces embrace slight asymmetry and fluid shape. “At the end, you need to be true to yourself. If it’s not you, it won’t work.”

Running the brand

Running the brand means toggling between maker, marketer, and everything in between. But if you can, it’s so important to have a community of artists around you.”

She describes her brand as a mix of artistry and commerce. The making, she says, is only one part. “You also need to engage online, build loyal customers, and do photoshoots—it’s a whole other job.”

And in a world driven by digital validation, Rosario’s approach is human. “It’s not about having thousands of followers. I prefer one good customer,” she says. “And now, after a year of doing this full-time, I know where my clientele is. I can spot them. I know who likes my work.”

But staying consistent—and believing in her vision—hasn’t always been easy. “It takes a lot of time to believe in yourself,” she admits. “I’m just one year in, and I still can’t believe it when people come back again and again to buy my jewellery.”

The confidence didn’t come overnight. “Creative people, we suffer a lot from many issues. But it’s the passion that drives us. It’s crazy, but it’s fun.”

She stays motivated by embracing connection. “Be open to people. Welcome them to your studio. They don’t have to buy something. Maybe they help you with a pop-up. Maybe they inspire something new.”

London, she says, plays its part too. “It’s a little bubble of creativity. There’s nowhere else like it.”

What’s next

Rosario is continuing to evolve her practice, with a focus on stones, bespoke commissions, and refining her signature balance of movement and form.

Follow her journey on Instagram @derosario_jewellery or explore the latest collections at www.derosario.co.