DESIGNER — RUNA · MAZATLÁN, MEXICO
Born by accident.
Shaped by curiosity.
Founded by Mariana Vargas
ABOUT MARIANA
Mariana Vargas
Currently based in Barcelona, Mariana Vargas is an industrial designer from Mazatlán, Mexico, whose journey into jewelry began almost by accident.
When the jewelry class she found herself in became her first encounter with the craft, she began teaching herself through videos, trial and error, and simply playing with the material. What started unexpectedly became a way of working that stayed with her.
Even after taking proper jewelry classes, Mariana continued to return to that same instinctive process — experimenting with the material, discovering shapes and trusting her intuition as she creates.
RUNA grew from that curiosity. Today, it is the older and more mature sister of Kukkú, the initial experiment that evolved into what RUNA is today.
“If you feel represented by it, if it feels like you, you might want to wear it every day.”
— Mariana Vargas
PHILOSOPHY — RUNA
Where Intuition Takes Shape
REINTERPRETATION
Mariana takes what catches her attention and translates it through her own way of seeing — into shapes, textures and objects. Her inspiration can come from art, fashion history, or the audiovisual world, turning a feeling or an image into something tangible.
MUSIC
Music is part of Mariana’s creative process. Before designing, she often chooses a song or creates a playlist to set the mood for a piece or a collection — as if sound and rhythm were drawing the lines and curves.
INTUITION
Experimentation, intuition and personal taste guide Mariana’s process. She allows herself to play with techniques and materials, discover shapes and trust what feels right — without imposing too many rules on the process.
HANDS BEHIND THE PIECES
Making Jewelry, Sharing the Process
Every piece is personally sculpted by Mariana, without molds or 3D printing. She likes getting her hands dirty, feeling the material and experiencing the technique. Sometimes, she can spend hours working with her headphones on, listening to music and getting lost in her own universe until the shape finally feels right.
The designs can be reproduced, but the process is never exactly the same. Because each piece is sculpted by hand, every one carries its own texture or small detail — making each piece unique in its own existence.
JEWELRY WORKSHOPS
Experimenting Without Perfection
Mariana also creates jewelry workshops where people are invited to experiment freely, be creative and express themselves without feeling the need to master the technique. For her, these experiences are about diving into the process, enjoying the craft and making the world of jewelry more accessible.
