Fashion Talk with Una Mundzic - ByUnaM
Inspired by origami and nature, Una Mundzic began her journey crafting jewelry, a passion that has since adorned international celebrities like Loreen and Halle Bailey. Here, get to know her story
As I scrolled through my Instagram feed, a striking image of Halle Bailey caught my eye, wearing a pair of remarkable earrings. They featured a large, golden flower with textured petals and a pristine white pearl at the center. The earrings were tagged 'ByUnaM' and I was immediately curious as to who was behind the design. It turned out to be Una Mundzic, an 18-year-old entrepreneur from Gothenburg, who not only crafts exquisite jewelry but also manages her own business. Dive in to discover her inspiring journey.
Photo: Una Mundzic
Name Una Mundzic
Age 18 years old, born 2006
Current residence Gothenburg
Family My mom Lejla, my father Emir and my little brother Manu
Life motto “Old ways won't open new doors”
Una Mundzic wearing her own design, the “Large Flowers” earrings
Photo: Una Mundzic
When did your interest in jewelry start?
I started making jewelry with pearls back in 2013, but it wasn't until our family vacation trip to Japan in 2016 that I discovered origami and became obsessed. Upon returning home, I immediately began creating small origami creations and turning them into earrings. By spring 2017, at just 11 years old, I held my first-ever exhibition at a La London design market in Gothenburg. However, after almost a year, I realized that the material wasn't sustainable at all, it could easily rip since it was just paper. That's when I discovered polymer clay in 2019, the same material that I work with today. I absolutely love working with polymer clay because it's very easy to shape and recreate according to your preferences and ideas, and it is incredibly lightweight. I create statement earrings for women to feel powerful and gorgeous, and despite their size, you barely feel them when you put them on.
How and when did you start working as a jewelry designer at ByUnaM?
I have been making jewelry since I was 11 years old. My brand was created during winter 2019/2020 when I started to create jewelry in my own style and found my own techniques. I experimented with many different styles and techniques before finally discovering my own style, which I achieved through carving. In December 2020, a Swedish singer named Mariette wore my earrings during her performance at the New Year's TV celebration in Sweden, marking the first significant moment in my career. Six months later, during her performance at Allsång På Skansen and Sommaröppet in SVT, Loreen wore my best-selling model, Multishape, making it a dream come true. In winter 2022, I had the opportunity to create a specially designed earring for Jessica Andersson for her performance at Melodifestivalen. In September 2022, my earrings were featured in a magazine, ELLE Thailand, for the first time, when Jessica Wang wore them.
What makes ByUnaM unique, how would you describe the ByUnaM aesthetic?
Everything at ByUnaM is handmade by me, which means every single piece is unique. I would describe the ByUnaM aesthetic as timeless, unique, and extraordinary. It’s more than just owning an accessory; it’s owning a piece of art crafted with care. Each piece is thoughtfully designed to empower women, embracing their beauty and fostering a sense of power.
Photo: Una Mundzic
What is the best part of running your own business? And what is the worst part? Undoubtedly, the flexibility to work according to my own schedule and pursue my passions freely is invaluable. It's a freedom and a privilege to engage in work I love and follow my passions. Additionally, cultivating a supportive and engaging community that embraces and follows me every step of the way is a source of immense fulfillment. However, it isn't always easy. As a designer, one must be prepared to face various challenges and devise new solutions for emerging problems. Personally, I've struggled significantly with maintaining inspiration and motivation in my work, which has deeply affected me. There are times when I find myself completely devoid of inspiration, and my motivation hits its lowest point.
As a small business owner, navigating through these moments is incredibly challenging and demands considerable effort. However, after experiencing numerous ups and downs, I've come to realize that inspiration cannot be summoned on demand. Instead, waiting for it to return is futile. The key is to engage in creative activities that bring joy and to continue working. It's when you find joy in what you do that inspiration naturally resurfaces.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I find and collect inspiration from my surroundings, particularly nature, which serves as a rich source of ideas for me. Engaging in runs or powerwalks in the forest is where I find myself most inspired and driven. As you can probably tell, even though my designs are characterized by their raw and organic essence, every single piece has some kind of connection to nature, whether it’s The Flowers or Feuille Leaf collection. Besides my environment, I dedicate significant time to researching upcoming trends for each season. This approach allows me to anticipate and plan emerging designs well in advance with a good margin until the season arrives.
Halle Bailey wearing the “Large Flowers” earrings by ByUnaM
Photo: Julian Dakdouk
Halle Bailey is wearing a pair of earrings from your latest collection in her music video for her new song In Your Hands. Could you please share all the details about that?
Halle Bailey is wearing Large Flowers from my latest Spring/Summer '24 collection. It’s a design that I created during December 2023 that emerged from a lot of analysis and research into the anticipated trends of the upcoming S/S season. Drawing inspiration from two of my favorite trends - flowers and freshwater pearls - I decided to try to combine them together in a design and infuse it with my distinctive aesthetic. My intention was to imbue the design with a raw, unconventional edge, deviating from the traditional notion of 'pretty' or 'cute' flower earrings. Upon completing the design, I immediately reached out to Halle’s stylist, Nichole Goodman, and asked if the earrings could be relevant for an upcoming styling. She responded positively and asked me to send them to her. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Can you please describe the design process?
Every single design starts with an idea that I come up with. Most of the time, upon conceiving an idea, I immediately begin crafting a prototype. When I have the time and patience to sketch it first, I prefer to do so because witnessing the progression of the earrings, from idea, to sketch, to prototype to the finished product is particularly fascinating for me. However, the journey from the first prototype to the finished product is where the real challenge lies. Sometimes, it takes as many as 15 attempts to refine the design until it meets my standards of perfection and satisfaction.
Photo: Una Mundzic
Who is the ByUnaM muse?
The muse behind ByUnaM is none other than my mother. She’s the reason why I started making jewelry, and her influence fueled the expansion of my creative horizons. She serves as my guiding light at all times, inspiring and motivating me to continually strive for excellence and become the best version of myself. Everything that I create is done with her in mind, envisioning her admiration for it in every detail. While I aim for universal wearability in my designs, her thoughts and approval remain paramount above all else.
Can you tell us about the future plans for ByUnaM?
To me, the future is all about a commitment to continual innovation and development in design and craftsmanship. I believe that evolving and creating new pieces are essential to maintaining motivation and inspiration in my work and to truly enjoy what I do. Achieving this requires a lot of effort and the willingness to step outside of my comfort zone and try new things. Fortunately, I am still young and do not have the pressure of making a living solely from my jewelry. However, I am laying the foundation for the brand's future development, aiming to establish a distinct ByUnaM aesthetic. Additionally, I plan to continue working on PR and communication strategies to collaborate with more stylists and hopefully secure more celebrity placements.
Follow ByUnaM on Instagram here.