#MCCOTInterview {47}
Natalia Matusiak, the Polish slow jewelry designer who pays tribute to her beloved family heritage and supports Polish craftsmanship
Life is like a roller coaster. One day you get down, another you get up. And so on. Facing difficulties and overcoming them allow you to learn to become more resilient, wiser and stronger. Like the phoenix that was reborn from its own ashes, you can move forward and pursue the organic quest of finding your true inner self, blossoming and happiness. We all deserve it. At the age of 40, Natalia Matusiak, a former professional ballroom dancer born and raised in Łódź who travelled the world, was personally and mentally in a bad and dark place. But the light came back in her life after she used all her strength, determination and discipline to start from scratch and reinvent herself. She fiercely embarked on a new journey. Back to her roots. Rediscovering her old flame for old custom designed jewels, creativity and craftsmanship. Making the winning decision to only do what she loves to do in her own way. Listening to her heart. Slowly but surely. With passion and dedication. Step by step. Learning by doing. Facing no pressure. Being her own boss. Managing with balance her busy private life as a loving single mother of a teenage boy with her exciting but also challenging new career as a solo preneur, founder and creative director of ROSENBLAUM, a 2021-established promising small premium and niche Warsaw-based jewelry brand with a one-of-a-kind modern, chic and nostalgic spirit. A label that she is deeply emotionally connected to. A sentimental tribute to her cherished family legacy and, especially, to her number one muse, her beloved grandmother. Natalia, whose creativity is daily fueled by a sincere nostalgia for the past and an ever-lasting love for Art, is slowly designing unique little artisanal masterpieces handcrafted in small batches with high expertise and care by a Varsovian skilled and close-knit craftsman she teamed up with. Graceful and timeless pieces ( most of them are custom made) that connect their lucky owners to cherished happy memories of their lost loved ones. Perfectionist at heart, Natalia who is a former athlete is pushing her boundaries to achieve her dream of building a Polish slow jewelry brand which suits her personality, values and expectations. A brand that supports and celebrates meaningful consumption, craftsmanship and high quality. She embodies a new generation of women who are willing to be happy and make other people happy around her. An inspirational and committed woman on a mission who is grateful for all the few milestones already reached by herself thanks to hard work and patience and for all the ones coming. The confirmation that even with limited financial resources at your disposal, by doing your best and putting your heart into it, you can make a difference. It is never too late. At least let's try.
By Hélène Battaglia
Who are you?
My name is Natalia Matusiak. I am a mum and the owner of the Warsaw-based jewelry brand ROSENBLAUM.
Did you discover your passion for jewels at a special occasion?
I discovered my passion for jewelry at an early stage. Being surrounded by my Mother and my Grandmother. They had a lot of vintage jewelry and bespoke designs. So since my childhood, I have been familiar with custom service and I have been cherishing this till this day. I love pearls and the Art Déco period, along with Wiener Werkstätte movement. As a child, I could read for hours about jewelry companies like Cartier or Tiffany - about their beginnings and their customer service. It was always on my mind since I can remember. My Grandmother had a big ruby signet .. it was lost….Also I used to be a professional ballroom dancer and travelled a lot in the 90s. This former professional experience of mine also shaped my aesthetic.
When did you made the bold decision to establish your niche jewelry label?
I remember this very vividly. It happened when everything crushed in my life. I had a broken heart and my then business had shot down. That was one of the most difficult time in my life. A true Nightmare…During the holidays of 2021, I started building myself from scratch. I was 40 year old. This big life lesson led me to build my dream brand ROSENBLAUM and finally love myself and be happy the way I am.
Which former career brought you to this milestone?
I always worked in creative businesses. From branding to helping a fashion designer with his brand to a stylist . It was a lot. I co-owned concept stores with a lot of great brands but I missed being my own boss and creating the way I want. ROSENBLAUM is all about my heritage, values and roots. This path was actually part of me for a long time.
How did you get ready to embark on this challenging new professional journey of yours?
To be honest I didn’t think about the business side of it. I was so into designing and creating jewelry that I really want to wear and keep my Grandmother's spirit in it that I had no clue what to expect. And it is hard. This journey is lonely and very difficult because I have no financial support. It is just me. Every day is a further step from my comfort zone but as a former athlete, I am fortunately able to work hard under pressure and long-distance goals are ok for me.
Why did you call your maison ROSENBLAUM?
It has appeared in one of my dreams. I know it sounds crazy. My Grandmother was jewish. We do not know her surname so I was thinking about her and roses and blooming - it has led me to the choice of the name ROSENBLAUM… and we had started our identity journey together. Now together with my Dad, I am going to finally find the proper certificates . He is 80 years old so it is resolutely time.
What are ROSENBLAUM's philosophy and core values?
ROSENBLAUM is all about heritage. About craftsmanship and history. It is a brand inspired by the love for the past. I loved the way my Grandmother dressed and I was raised by my mum ALINKA, a very fragile yet strong woman. My brand keeps me connected in spirit to them. Almost all of my family has gone so it is crucial for me to design with their heritage in my mind. Jewelry is for me a nostalgic journey that is why I have a bespoke service. My creations will last for generations and because of that I create and try to be as good as I can.
As a brave and busy female solopreneur, what is a typical day of yours?
I wake up very early: 5.30- 6. Am. I do Dr. Joe Dispenza meditation then I read a bit of newspapers enjoy my coffee and prepare breakfast for me and my 14-year-old son Diego. Then I do some pilates, power walk or now padel, just to clear my head. After that I start working at 11.00 until the end of the day. I visit my clients, meet my Goldsmiths, try to do social media , and design new stuff. Generally a lot and my days are different besides my mornings. I am a very routine person. It keeps me sane. I read a lot and I try to keep myself open. I am doing all by myself so it is quite a lot. Some of my creations are available at the store WONDERS located in Warsaw and online on Danish The Jewellery Room so I need to be ready to talk to them and ship my orders. As I am a creative mind, all this corporate stuff are so difficult to me. I am trying to be in my bed at 22.00 pm to wake up early. So nothing fancy :).
How do you daily make it managing your own small business as a single mother?
I do not. I'm learning step by step. Sometimes I need to spend more time with my son and the business needs to wait. But sometimes it happens that I work for 15 hours straight. He is 14 years old so he is aware of what I do and he is very proud of it. He can see what it takes to build a brand. To be totally sincere sometimes I am beyond tired but I love what I do and I know that, one day, this Polish little jewelry brand will be known worldwide.
Which is your way to stand out of the crowd, keep going and make a name for yourself?
My business model is well thought. I really was thinking about it for a long time. Because I didn’t have any financial support - just my money- I knew I needed the best quality product. I do not design for masses. My brand is only for selected clients and I can say that all of them are beyond wonderful. I have no stock and no stationary store yet. Maybe in the future. Who knows. Right now I am building my community and I am pushing myself to create premium jewelry with a modern and chic spirit. I love working on custom designs and this bespoke service is the most important to me. It feels familiar and reminds me of special moments in my childhood when a tailor came to my Grandfather's place to make him a suit. Because of geopolitics, right now, I can see that people are looking back with nostalgia and want to buy something with a value. It makes me happy that brands like mine will hopefully be able to increase their turnover and won’t be eaten by other brands which have chosen to import everything from China to earn more money even neglecting the quality. This is not me. I want my jewelry to be handcrafted in Poland like it is now and by the best Goldsmiths. That is why I am building ROSENBLAUM so slow but in a steady way.
How do you cope with the difficulties of running a small niche emerging brand in this period of economic instability and uncertainty?
As I mentioned: Handcrafted jewelry. Custom service. Working with the best Goldsmiths. Combining my jewelry with Art and not only selling product but values and nostalgia for the past. ROSENBLAUM is all about going back to the roots. It is about buying less and buying only high quality jewelry.
What scared you the most regarding the business?
That one day I will be so tired to push myself further…
Designing bespoke pieces that perfectly suit the personality and the expectations of your clients is what you love to do, do not you?
Yes, I love it. The first meeting is always nice. To get to know the person. I need to hear who he or she is. After that very easily I know what to design. This is the most exciting part of my work and I really appreciate it.
Who are the women you create for?
Well educated. Women who appreciate brands with values and not only because they are well known.
Women who buy the best quality products with history. Female travelers.
I am most often inspired by Art but also by the female members of my family.
Do you have contemporary female muses you would love to become ambassadors of yours?
Oh yes. Polish model Malgosia Bela and American actress Chloë Sevigny; I would do anything to show her my jewelry.
Your production is 100 % made in Warsaw in a slow, artisanal and ethical way. How do you usually pick the skilled goldsmiths who create with dedication your collections?
Since the beginning I work with Mr Jack; he has 30 years of experience. He is the most important person for me. He also picks and decides who is going to help with the orders if we have a lot.
Warsaw is the metropolis you live in and the city where ROSENBLAUM was born. Which kind of connection do you have with it?
It is very vibrant city which is getting noticed more and more. I love the district of Żoliborz where I live. I love the National Museum. I have an old soul and I get a lot inspired by the past. I am not a modern person at all so modern art is sometimes a bit too much for me. Warsaw is very open metropolis but can also be hard to live in. By visiting it you can for sure feel our Slavic vibes.
Behind the designer and entrepreneur, which kind of woman is Natalia?
Brave, for sure. Very independent but fragile. You can easily hurt me but I am working on myself not to worry anymore about what anybody thinks of me. I just love my son and the life I have established for myself and him. I am very proud because I did it all by myself. I am a romantic soul so sometimes I get to suffer.
What makes you smile in life?
My son, talking to my Dad, meeting good people and reading. I read a lot, it makes me smile. Art and just being …. It is enough.
Do you have a life motto you want to share with us?
Always listen to your gut. Be good to people who are good to you.
Which is the secret dream of yours concerning ROSENBLAUM?
To be able to sell in NY and Tokyo. To show what ROSENBLAUM jewelry brand is all about and to open a showroom but only by appointment and offer different custom services. To get more clients like I have now. I am very grateful for what I have now. So I am pretty happy.
All the pictures are Courtesy of ROSENBLAUM & Mrs. Matusiak. All rights reserved.
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