Today we’d like to introduce you to Camila Montoya.

Hi Camila, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

My name is Camila Montoya, founder and creative director of dFrancisco—a brand that transforms waste into cool, meaningful jewelry. My journey began long ago; I’ve always felt like a creative at heart. But for me, creativity isn’t just about self-expression—it’s a form of revolution.

I studied architecture, and while I loved the field, working in it was a different story. As a recent graduate, I found myself doing technical drawings for others rather than creating freely. That’s when my need for a more hands-on creative outlet grew. I started taking jewelry classes as a hobby, and before I knew it, that hobby had turned into a brand.

Entrepreneurship, in many ways, was always in me. It’s like raising a child—filled with daily challenges, yet incredibly fulfilling when someone believes in what you do. It’s tough, no doubt, but there’s something about it that I love every single day.

Almost four years later, here I am, introducing myself not just as a creative, but as the founder of a brand I’m truly proud of.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

The road of entrepreneurship is anything but smooth—it’s more like going off-road almost every day. There’s no single path, no guidebook, and no guarantees. The struggles? I could write forever about them. As a founder, I have to juggle everything—production, design, clients, stores, trends, finance—you name it. To create something, you need to understand it all.

Some people might think, *”Well, it’s just jewelry. How complicated can it be?”* But it’s not *just* jewelry. It’s designing pieces that stand out in a crowded market. It’s building a sustainable brand where everyone involved, from artisans to suppliers, truly understands the mission. It’s managing finances because, let’s be real, you need money to create a brand. It’s keeping up with technology because, in today’s world, having a website is non-negotiable. It’s negotiating with store owners, navigating social media, designing packaging that works for shipping, understanding logistics, and even learning legal requirements if you want to sell internationally.

The challenges are constant, but when you look back and see how much you’ve learned, how much you’ve built—that’s when you realize you’ve paved your own road.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

At my core, I’m a creative, but lately, I take the most pride in being called an entrepreneur—because that title includes it all. Almost four years ago, I launched d’Francisco, a sustainable jewelry brand with a mission beyond just aesthetics.

In 2019, I had the opportunity to move to NYC, and something about that city changed me. Despite the overwhelming amount of waste you see on the streets, New Yorkers truly care about sustainability. That mindset influenced me in ways I never expected. I started buying secondhand clothing, reducing my consumption of animal products, and becoming more conscious of what I was supporting. That’s when I realized that if I was going to create something meaningful, it had to be sustainable.

That idea became d’Francisco. We create jewelry using repurposed materials—currently, silver and glass from existing products. But this is just the beginning. Our goal is to be known as the brand that gives new life to all kinds of materials, not just in fashion but in design as a whole. What sets us apart is our deep understanding of sustainability’s urgency. We’re not just following a trend; we’re working every day to create solutions that reshape the industry.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.

Risk—a short but heavy word. Taking risks is directly tied to stepping out of your comfort zone. You never really know how things will turn out, but as the famous saying goes, *”If you want different things, you need to do things differently.”* Growth requires risk; there’s no way around it.

Risk is essential in every part of life. It’s what moves us forward. It starts when we’re kids, taking the risk of asking others if we can join their game—some of those kids might even become lifelong friends. It’s the risk of raising your hand in class, speaking up despite the fear of getting it wrong. It’s the risk of launching a brand, putting your work out into the world, and hoping people connect with it. It’s the risk of falling in love, knowing there are no guarantees.

Life is built on risks. Without them, it wouldn’t be as exciting, as unpredictable, or as full of possibility.

Pricing:

• 137
• 149
• 270
• 110
• 146

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dfranciscojewelry.com/es-co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dfranciscojewelry/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dfranciscojewelry/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/d-francisco
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9yFCYNE9b-c

Image Credits

dFrancisco
Melissa Chaves