Sunniva Bonnieux : adopt the Sun, Sand and Sea attitude

Blue marine pearls, pareos, friendship bracelets, everything is handmade. By using each shell that the sea has provided, Sunniva Bonieux creates beautiful earrings, necklaces and bracelets. She is grateful for everything that Mother Nature has given her.

When a Norwegian shared with us the handicraft accessories she makes, it without a doubt attracted our curiosity. Sunniva Bonieux possesses a Bachelor in business and is now owner of a small business…a small business of handmade and creative accessories. A native of Norway, she fell in love with our island. When she arrived in Mauritius, she first worked in a real estate company. She afterwards realised that sitting at a desk was only suffocating. She possesses a creative mind and is gifted with talents. “Office job was not for me and I decided to start my own little business making jewellery and accessories,” she says. She decided to take the lead of her life and pursue what her creative fingers told her to do, thus leaving behind her a job for a passionate career. Encouraged by a good friend of hers, she opened her first shop in Mauritius promoting her first collection.

Doing what she loves...

She admitted that she has never studied anything related to jewellery making or fashion and design. “It was something I always loved to do.” She learned everything through YouTube.  Sunniva started her business four years ago. After designing her own jewelleries, she thought about starting a business. Leaving a white-collar job turned out to be a turning point for this 29 year-old woman. After optimistic feedbacks, she decided to continue to be more and more involved in this passionate job. “After an encouraging feedback and good sales, I decided to expand into accessories,” So over the last two years, she has been making more and more accessories and other products: toiletry, sun cream bags, ponchos, pareos, clutches and so on.

Being her own boss…

During the first months, it was like a part-time job. It did take some time to evolve it into a full time job. “I am very happy with the size of the business for now and I have no intention to expand it,” she admits. Sunniva explains that she wants to maintain the current size of the business. The reason? It is easier to handle and manage. “I enjoy my involvement in every sector of my business and if it gets bigger, it will become more difficult and stressing,” she says. Her Bachelor in business has provided her with the skills to manage every corner and create the unique accessories.

Positive vibes...

The island has extremely inspired her to build herself a little empire. She faced no obstacles, everything she did and every step she took was taken with a smile, love and passion. The positive vibes she got had never let her down. The encouragement from her little family and her friend has helped her to become what she is. Obstacles were however inexistent. The reason? She was and still is positive and faithful about every of her decisions.

Creative islander...

She has indeed come a long way! “Almost all my products are 100% handmade,” she delightedly says. She makes 90% of all the jewelleries on her own and the 10% are imported along with all her beads. Making everything with her own hand, managing delivery, marketing and so on is challenging but not impossible for this woman.

On the path of success...

She mentions that every product she makes is unique. People may contact her via Facebook for any order or ask for any design. One may see her products at every corner of the island and she is proud and feels blessed to see things going right. She cherishes every little moment. Her positive vibes succeeded in attracting more and more customers. She today sells her products in several shops and hotels across Mauritius. She also sells her products across the Mascarenes Islands.