Meet Giulia Frat.

Currently a student and working part-time, at 21 Giulia is making her mark on the world with her very own bespoke jewellery business, one piece at a time. We spoke to the founder of Morosa Jewellery about time management, positivity and how she’s transformed her goals into gold… just in time for class.

Tell us about yourself?
My name is Giulia Frat, I’m 21 and studying Bachelor of Laws. I’ve been working since I was 15, and have always loved trying new things – I go through heaps of hobbies and self-set projects.

Has setting up your own business been something you’ve always wanted to do?
Yes! I’ve been wanting to have my own business for years. The main hurdles have been finding an idea or an avenue that I’m passionate about, but that is also financially within reach. Morosa is definitely both of those things for me. Something about working for myself and on my own schedule has always really appealed to me. It really defines your identity and gives you a sense of confidence and independence.

How do you manage studying, part-time work and running your own business?
It requires diligence and organisation. You can’t put your business on the backburner when you feel overwhelmed with other things in life, it’s something that needs consistent attention, creativity, and persistence in all aspects.

I’m lucky that my work allows me to have set shifts two days a week which helps me to organise my time. Initially when I started up Morosa, I was doing full-time uni in my third year of law, which meant that nearly every minute of my day was allocated to working in some form or another. Going part-time at uni has eased that pressure and has given me a bit more time and space to make well-thought-out decisions.

Tell us about Morosa Jewellery?
Morosa is a very unique jewellery brand, as my point of difference is providing very high quality jewellery for a fraction of the price that other jewellery brands retail at. I deal only in precious materials; real gold, sterling silver and gemstones. My silver is also anti tarnish, which is hard to come by these days as most brands don’t go the extra step.

I’ve always despised the capitalist nature of women’s retail brands producing poor quality products for a big asking price.  Morosa is my way of being fair to the consumer, I believe everyone deserves to have beautiful things that actually last, without having to sacrifice a week’s wage.

What’s the backstory for the brand name?
The brand name is very personal. I was named after my great-grandmother in Italy. Her maiden name was ‘Amorosa’ which translates to ‘loving’. I decided to shorten it to ‘Morosa’. The Italian word ‘oro’ meaning ‘gold’ is also in the middle of the name Morosa, which is what my jewellery is made of! So I thought it was very fitting.

What do you like to do to get inspired?
My main inspirations for the vibe of my business comes from Italian Renaissance and medieval art.

Sandro Botticelli and Raphael are my two main muses. I have always been captivated by Botticelli’s Birth of Venus which I look at every day on my desktop background to inspire me. My upcoming collection is very influenced by the painting so keep an eye out!

What’s your creative process like?
I always start off by deciding what feel I want to bring to a new collection. For example, I wanted to bring feelings of power, independence and beauty to the wearer, as well as maintaining an ancient glamour vibe. This lead to the creation of the Egypt Collection.

I usually create 15-20 different designs per collection, and then I pick 3-5 of the best and then decide which are the most practical to produce so that my customer can afford them. I am always keeping in mind the affordability of my customer – I always aim to give the best value for money.

What advice would you give to young people who want to start up their own business while they’re still studying?
My advice is to work really hard in your day job and save as much as possible – you need a significant amount of cash to start any business. There are so many hidden costs and lessons that you learn along the way that can be very expensive. Never be in debt before you even begin – you can never predict your market.

Also do your research – I spent nearly a year researching the best places to source materials and find manufacturers that can meet my needs. That is probably the hardest part of the process of starting up. It is also really important that you do this research yourself. Asking people what they did can only get you so far, and can actually end up being a disadvantage to you in the long term. Most importantly – BE POSITIVE AND PERSISTENT! Good things come to those who wait and work hard.

Where can we buy Morosa Jewellery?
Website: www.morosajewellery.com
Instagram: @morosajewellery
Facebook: /morosajewellery

Words by Amber De Luca – Tao

IG – @fettywamber1738

Interview with Giulia Frat

IG – @morosajewellery