I was born and raised in Santiago, Dominican Republic. My childhood consisted of being the second child of two sisters and one brother. Even though my parents were divorced which required my mother to work harder, I had a fun-loving childhood. Some of the best memories I have growing up in Dominican Republic was enjoying a tropical climate all year long and playing street games outside with neighborhood kids. I loved riding my bike, roller skating, taking swimming lessons, and playing tennis at the Club Centro Espanol, as well as having many beach weekend trips.
My mother worked in a financial real estate company and had her own jewelry business selling 18k, 14k gold and precious stones. Growing up and seeing my mom dress up with good taste and classic style, while wearing beautiful solid gold jewelry and different kinds of gemstones, made me grow a passion for fashion and jewelry.
When I was 16 years old, my family and I moved to the United States, settling in New Jersey. My first job was working in a retail clothing store. In 1993, I went to college, and after class, I worked in the Jewelry Diamond District on 47th Street in New York City. There, I learned about the retail jewelry business, the art of jewelry-making, and the difference between ethical and unethical business practices.
After many years in the retail clothing and jewelry industry, I received an offer to work as a manager for a famous clothing store in Soho, NY, called Sisley. After three years of college and finding a career interest, I decided to pursue a career in the fashion industry.
When I was 23 years old, two luxury boutique stores in Soho, NY, hired me as a buyer. When I turned 25, I returned to the Dominican Republic, opening my own luxury boutique store in Santiago called Makka. There I sold designer jewelry and clothes. One year later, I married my husband, Paul Peralta, and had three children: Sebastian, Miranda, and Nicolás. Eventually, I closed the store to become a full-time mom. In 2009, I moved back to New Jersey, USA, with my husband and kids, and continued to be a full-time mom.
When my three kids reached high school, I decided to return to my passion and become a jeweler. In 2019, SEMINI was born. The name SEMINI is derived from the first two letters of each of my kids' names: SE from Sebastian, MI from Miranda, and NI from Nicolás. I started by selling gold jewelry to family and friends and wholesaling to small businesses.
In 2024, I realized that not everyone can afford expensive jewelry. I decided to focus on working with different jewelry designers to create affordable fashion jewelry that is accessible to everyone. SEMINI is introducing 925-sterling silver, made of 92.5% pure silver. It is a highly durable material ideal for daily long-term wear and is hypoallergenic. SEMINI is collaborating with ethical, eco-friendly, and sustainable manufacturers in New York, Italy, and the Dominican Republic to produce 92% silver from recycled sources. This emphasis on recycling underscores our commitment to reducing our environmental impact.
Soon, SEMINI will introduce a new jewelry collection designed by me, Evelyn Hiraldo. The collection is inspired by the Bahai Faith, which promotes love, peace, and unity.