ABOUT US

 

 

Sociably Sustainable. Totally Irresistable.

Aria Handmade. Eco-Friendly for the Eco-Chic.

 

About Aria.

Aria Handmade is an eclectic, artisan collection of high quality, handcrafted jewelry and accessories infused with recycled material from the US and natural, raw materials from the Amazon Rain Forest. Each piece is finely crafted by hand, making every product a unique and sustainable, eco-friendly design.

Nestor Pineda is the vessel behind the creation of Aria Handmade. His inspiration derives from his love of art, life and the joy of what nature brings.

 

“Art is a fundamental part of my life. Everything that I do, dream and think is influenced by a deep artistic sensibility. I feel very passionate about the environment and the way we should tread our mother earth and the people and beings that inhabit it. In turn, being eco-friendly and environmentally conscious is the core of my company. It is the DNA of my products.”

Nestor's collections primarly come from hand-harvested, nuts and seeds of South America, such as the ivory palm known as Tagua from Colombia, Bombono seeds from Peru, the Amazonian palm berry known as Acai; only to name a few... While obtaining these raw materials, his designs are also intergrated with recycled aluminum from Miami, fibers from North Carolina, and orange peel and melon seeds from the local Farmers Market. Production takes place at Nestor's studio in High Point, NC, with Nestor as the visionary in each design, and handcrafted by the help of friends and family he's trained to ensemble the pieces.

 

Little Known Facts.

 

About Nestor:

 

Where are you from? I was born in the Caribbean island of the Dominican Republic. Right after high school I moved to NYC where I went to college and lived most of my adult life.

 

Have you always held a passion for jewelry and accessories? Fashion has always been an insipiration of mine, a space to dream, let my imagination run, and escape reality. I have been lucky to always be near people, places, and environments that embrace fashion as a means to articulate their identity as individuals and people.

 

What inspired you to start Aria Handmade? In essence, I am a creative person. I worked most of my life supporting other people's visions, which in many cases were not in sync with mine. It came to a point where I felt the need to follow my dreams and create a company that values a sustainable healthy, environment, people, and society while remaining current, relevant, and on pulse with the times.

 

Where did you come up with the name "Aria"? Aria is the little girl that we never had. In a big way, our company is our baby, so we named our business “Aria”.

 

Have you always been an entrepreneur/artist? Not really. I am an independent thinker, but not really a great businessman. That is where my partner Mauricio comes in. He is the other 50% of the company. I am the puddle and he is the pit bull.

What are your other passions in life? I live my life a day at a time, therefore, my passion is always shifting, renewing, evolving. I love what I do today, and it will definitely change tomorrow.

 

Why women's accessories? It is so much easier and fun. Women are more open to be influenced to change. Besides, all my muses are women. All I need to do is close my eyes and play.

Where do you gain your inspiration for the jewelry designs and accessories? Nature. I pay attention to texture, colors, and shapes, and then I think of objects that people might need and want for their everyday life.

 

How would you describe your jewelry and accessories? I strive to make fashion accessories that become conversational pieces. By infusing design, processes, and raw materials, my accessories awake curiosity and give a sense of identity to those who wear them.

 

Describe your products in 3 adjectives: Different. Intriguing. Sustainable.