Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Estrada.
Hi Jessica, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been a creative person ever since I was young. I’d love to sketch and mess around with crafting materials, but growing up, I didn’t really know how my artistic abilities would translate as an adult. I felt undecided after high school, so I turned to community college. It was a blessing in disguise because I discovered my passion for graphic design. I took my first design class, and it opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of artistic exploration. Design is limitless and I felt called to learn more!
I transferred from Norwalk Community College to The Savannah College of Art & Design, where I got a BFA in graphic design and a minor in photography. During my time at SCAD, I met great people, learned critical design techniques, and grew as an artist. Through the art of exploration, I unintentionally created a project that ended up becoming the core of my small business named Unica.
Unica was the product of a late-night craving. I was scouring for a snack in my dorm kitchen and decided to slice up some oranges as a healthy alternative. While doing so, I thought about the beauty and natural design of the orange slice. Fruit is geometrically ornate and unique…how could I preserve this? With minimal research, I learned about fruit preservation through oven baking; so I gave it a try myself. It didn’t turn out exactly how I expected but I didn’t give up. I invested in a dehydrator during my summer break, and I was determined to get it right. I was able to dehydrate various produce, and through the process of trial and error, I became successful. I would carefully craft the fruit into wearable earrings. Now it’s become a small business and a passion project that I hold dear to my heart. All the earrings are handcrafted, painted, and made with lots of love & care.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There’s definitely been trials and tribulations along the way, but as a designer, it’s my job to be a creative problem solver. I’ve been through the experimentation process of the fruit dehydration, and that was definitely the toughest part about starting up. How long each fruit needed to be in the machine for; especially since different fruits contain different water levels, and some require longer time in the machine than others. That part of the process will always be the most technical, but I’ve gotten to the point where I trust myself and feel more comfortable with it. Right now, I’m at a point where I want to elevate the experience of my jewelry. I’d love to create pieces that could function more than an earring and potentially be interactive with the wearer.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Unica translates to “only or “one of a kind” from both Portuguese and Spanish. Cultivating culture and nature, Unica serves to give your look a one-of-a-kind experience.
These earrings take time, and I want my pieces to be at the highest quality that they can be. After the dehydrating process, the fruit loses a bit of its color. A common question I get is, “do they rot?” or “will they last?” They do last, however, since they’re still produce, their color fades over time…even more after the dehydration process. They won’t rot, but I advise people that these earrings are fragile and not water-resistant. After they’re dried, I hand paint on every detail, reviving the fruit to its original color through watercolor.
Recently I’ve been working on fig earrings and painting them to the best of my ability by replicating its fleshy essence and drawing on hundreds of tiny seeds. This can take me hours, even days, but the results are well worth it.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I’ve found that visiting open markets and speaking with people with business experience has helped me with moving Unica forward. I currently sell my earrings at an eclectic eco-friendly gift shop in Norwalk, Connecticut, called Eco-Evolution. I was also a vendor at a summer market for the first time this past summer. I’ve been pushing myself to put my work out to the public and getting as much exposure as I can. Being active on social media and having a healthy balance between producing and branding yourself is important. The balance isn’t perfect yet, but I’m working towards it slowly and surely!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jessica-estrada.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unica_frutas/?hl=en
