I am Alzerina Gomes, a jewelry and clothing designer, best known for my innovative creations using Austrian crystals. Born and raised in the remote village of Portalzinho Garca on the island of Santo Antao, Cape Verde, I received my first sewing lessons from my mother at the age of four, igniting my lifelong passion for creating beauty.
I left Cape Verde for Paris in the early 1990s, where I learned the art of jewelry making while living in Paris. It was during this time that the idea of becoming a jewelry designer blossomed. In 1998, I left Paris for New York City, and in 2005, I launched my own company, Alzerina Jewelry, which is now present in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and Cape Verde.
My elegant creations, enhanced by the use of Swarovski elements and my Alzi line of contemporary bracelets, earrings, and necklaces, exude craftsmanship and a style as unique as myself. The organic simplicity of Alzerina Jewelry shines with grace and sophistication. You can find Alzerina Jewelry in fashion magazines and on the sets of Warner Bros. and Disney productions. Numerous celebrities, including Sharon Stone, Olivia Wilde, and Katheryn Winnick, wear my jewels.
Miss Universe 2017, Miss USA 2017, and Miss Teen 2012/13 are among my clients.
Last year, Alzerina's designs illuminated Times Square when her products were featured on the NBC electronic billboard overlooking New York City's most famous tourist destination. Alzerina's hard work and efforts have been recognized well beyond the fashion circles.
The American Embassy in Praia, Cape Verde, highlighted her accomplishments as a woman entrepreneur for two consecutive years at the annual Cape Verde International Trade Fair (FIC). In October 2016, Alzerina was recognized as a Woman of Inspiration during an International Talk Show in Lisbon, Portugal, by Adoro Ser Mulher. She also won an award at the La Jolla International Film Festival in July 2016 for her fashion skills. In November of the same year, Alzerina was honored by the mayor of the City Hall of Rome, Italy, during an event in Rome with the Kriol-Ita organization to support the Batista de Sousa hospital.
Alzerina received special recognition from the United States Congress for her contributions to preserving Cape Verdean culture in the United States. She is also the recipient of the 2018 Somos Cabo Verde (We Are Cape Verde) distinguished 'Diaspora Award.'
Alzerina continues to conduct workshops for disadvantaged teens, and she has been asked to represent a U.S. initiative to further entrepreneurial skills and marketplace capability for women in emerging African countries. Alzerina remains dedicated to her craft and is always expanding her ideas and trying to stay ahead of the trends. Visit her website at Alzerina.com to learn more.