From her humble beginnings as a metalsmith’s apprentice in Brooklyn to outfitting fashion-forward celebrities like Beyonce, Megan Thee Stallion, Lizzo and Angelina Jolie, it’s obvious that Nina walks through life with her eyes open, bringing a one-of-a-kind vision to each design. A large part of Nina Berenato’s brand identity rests on the designer’s goal to use her gift for design to make the women In her community feel powerful, beautiful and capable of anything.
After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design at University of Missouri, Nina Berenato moved to New York and through a stroke of luck, met a jewelry designer who was seeking a production metal smithing apprentice. Nina began her first year of apprenticeship under Elizabeth Knight in 2010, but ended up working under the well-known Brooklyn-based designer for the next five years. Under her mentor's guidance, Nina honed her craft and released her first self-designed and fabricated collection, Cosmic, after just one year of study.
While in NYC, she bootstrapped her business, working odd jobs like passing out fliers for a parking garage from 6am-8am before heading to the studio, bartending on the weekends and working as a buyer for a local retail store in the evenings.
Nina grew her wholesale business little by little over the next 4 years, eventually stocking her line in over 200 shops over the US and Canada including Free People, Urban Outfitters, and Uncommon Goods.
Through the advice of a free business adviser at the NYC Small Business Association, in 2015 Nina moved to Austin, TX and turned her focus to brick and mortar retail. After noticing the food truck culture around Texas, Nina decided to create a one of a kind mobile jewelry store built inside of a 1959 Airstream Bambi travel trailer. With her trailer boutique in tow, she did pop-ups all over Texas and quickly became a well-known fixture in Austin’s growing maker community. It was in Austin that Nina realized the full potential her line had, as women all over the state flooded her mobile shop to purchase her designs and meet the designer in person.
Nina Berenato
Nina reached a life-long goal and opened up her 1900 sq ft brick and mortar flagship store, recently named Best Jewelry Store in Austin. At the Nina Berenato flagship you'll find Nina's original designs uniquely displayed, the work of other local female artists featured, a one-of-a-kind metal smithing studio where Nina will come throughout the year to create the prototypes for her collections, and most importantly her amazing staff of shopgirls! Nina’s store has quickly become a hub for women to get involved in social justice causes, discover and donate to local charities, find strength in community and collaborate on Nina’s mission to improve the lives of women in Texas through creativity and resourcefulness.
In 2019 Nina was commissioned to create ten custom face masks for Beyonce's ‘Spirit’ and 'Black is King' Visual Music Video and, a project that launched the designer into the global spotlight. Since then, she has dressed celebrities like Lizzo, Chloe x Halle, Meg the Stallion, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Billy Porter, Angelina Jolie and more as the celebrity elite continue to follow the designer and support her work.
In 2020 Nina launched the Nina Berenato Bracelet bar which quickly became a TikTok viral sensation. Lines formed outside the store each weekend to “Get Zapped” with a permanent welded bracelet in one of Nina’s signature chains, and in the 4 years since we have opened pop up bracelet bar locations in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. Customers can now add charms and choose from a growing chain menu too!
Since 2021, Nina Berenato Jewelry has donated over $140k to local Texas charities. Being able to make a difference for women in Texas is what drives us and gives us the courage to face the challenges that arise as a small business, year after year. The hustle is real, and these donations are why we are constantly pushing as a team, because of our power to make a difference.
Nina Berenato Jewelry is the first fashion retail business in Austin, Texas to earn the city's highest sustainability honor as a Platinum Green Business Leader, going toe to toe and surpassing billion-dollar companies. Most products are made from recycled and refined metals, our e-commerce shipping products are zero-waste and fully compostable, and our headquarters, production studio, and storefront in Austin, Texas runs off of 100% wind-powered energy.
