Founder Spotlight: Monica Paterlini (DAMAPREZIOSA)
Meet Monica Paterlini
Company:
DAMAPREZIOSA
We are a small Italian family-owned business. Damapreziosa is the first brand to create a vegan alternative to the Italian-style jewel sandal. Our products are completely handmade by Italian artisans using all plant-based materials.
Startup Stage:
Bootstrapped
Location:
Sirmione, Italy
When did you launch the business?
2020
What led you to where you are today?
My husband and I started designing and producing our jewel sandal line 15 years ago. After my daughter decided to become vegan, she helped us understand that all beings deserve to be respected. Therefore, our lifestyle drastically changed and took a turn for the better. Accordingly, our footwear line also changed. We gave up all animal-derived materials as well as plastic-based materials to reduce our impact on the planet as much as possible. And thus, Damapreziosa was born.
What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?
How much work goes behind launching a luxury vegan product, and how much attention to detail is necessary to make your vision come to life, such as finding the right packaging or the right kind of vegan glue.
What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?
Giving up an already established business in the name of our beliefs and starting anew by launching a vegan product on a market I knew nothing about until now.
What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?
I put a lot of effort into researching new ways of improving sustainable fashion, as I believe that sharing information with other entrepreneurs can help us all to improve ourselves and expand the reach of the community.
How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?
Creating connections with people who share our same views is easy and rewarding. Communities like this one bring people together and can help others discover and understand our lifestyle. Unity is strength!
Fun fact about you:
Currently, I am a jewelry and footwear designer, but originally I started as an antique dealer.
Anything else you would like to share?
I am also a proud mother of three children and two dogs.
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