When Ariela Suster was growing up in El Salvador during the country’s terrifying civil war, she never once dreamed of being a designer. The founder and creative director of the jewelry and accessories company Sequence still doesn’t see herself as one, despite what her beautifully handcrafted designs suggest. The former fashion editor defines her success by her company’s ability to disrupt the cycle of violence in her childhood home. And she’s doing it, one signature-knot bracelet at a time. “My past gave me a personal mission and purpose that I live by, and gives this crazy-dangerous world around me meaning. It’s the reason why I’m here.” —Jennifer Henderson
Her style story: “When I was growing up, my dad traveled a lot to Japan. He would bring home clothes by the designer Hanae Mori for me. It wasn’t really what my friends in El Salvador were wearing—very minimal and dark—but I loved that they weren’t the traditional outfits the other girls were wearing.”
Her purpose: “I think the key to success is different for everyone. For me, it means to do something that has a larger meaning and purpose. When things get tough, I know I can’t waste time and I need to focus on my company’s mission and do whatever it takes it with integrity and honesty, to make it grow.”
Her company: “The young men Sequence employs are not trained artisans; they live in the most violent, gang-ridden communities. Sequence provides them with the skills needed and the opportunity to step away from the path of violence that they are at risk of joining or becoming victims of every day. My childhood in El Salvador inspired me to create beautiful, handmade designs inspired by the vibrant Latin culture, and so it was important that these designs were produced by these young men.”
Her uniform: “Easy and chill. I have a uniform that I wear to work in El Salvador: white T-shirt, jeans, and a pair of cool sandals or sneakers.”
Her guilty pleasures: “Red wine, cookies, dark chocolate, and Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations and The Layover.”
Her creations: “Sequence’s bracelets and necklaces are all handmade. The signature knot designs come in a variety of color combinations, and each season we add different accent materials, like metal beads and leather. We’ve also been thinking about how we can tell the story of our brand in new ways. We worked with Microsoft on a bracelet with an NFC chip that, when the bracelet is connected to your smartphone, plays a video about Sequence. We also started experimenting with screen printing and embroidery to make computer bags and tech accessories.”
Her beauty: “Depth, confidence, and humility.”
Her future: “I work and travel nonstop, but it doesn’t all feel like work. That’s the beauty of it. Right now, we are focused on an initiative to help us increase our high-volume orders, raise awareness for our mission, and employ more young men. We’ve partnered with companies to do corporate gifting—last year, we created 21,000 bracelets for M.A.C. Cosmetics employees around the world. And we’re always looking to collaborate with companies on creating products that are meaningful.”