Efrain Espinoza

"I'm a young Costa Rican designer and craftsman, in love with and totally dedicated to my work. I seek to excel as a person, create job opportunities, and be part of a significant change in my country. <br><br> "I was born on August 27 in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Today I develop fine jewelry for men. I started a few years ago however, time has helped me develop my skills and with this I've been able to reach many clients who have appreciated my work. <br><br> "I have always loved leather products but, at first, I only bought them. Eventually it occurred to me to start experimenting and making them myself. Then I was presented with the opportunity to attend a fair where I exhibited many of my handmade items such as books, paintings and bracelets. But to my surprise, the only thing I sold were the bracelets for men. I had the pleasure of returning a couple times more and, again, a lot of the bracelets sold. That was when I noticed a pattern and, at that time, there was not yet anyone in Costa Rica who dedicated himself exclusively to these products for men. <br><br> "It was an art that I fell in love with from the beginning. I love being able to work with my hands and create something that someone will use and feel satisfied to be able to wear it, knowing that their purchase was worth it. Each design that I do is visualized in my mind. I see the colors and possible combinations and, for each design, I perform tests so that the client has a piece of jewelry that not only decorates, but something with which they can feel comfortable and use daily. <br><br> "Many of the more difficult moments in my life, such as having to overcome rejection because of my sexual orientation, have led me to be the person that I am today. I'm very fortunate to be able to count on people who, with their unconditional help, made it possible for me to get out of a depression that took me to the point of suicide. They are of great significance in my life. Because of them, I have allowed myself to take creativity to the maximum. Despite being something that I did not accept and that I denied myself, now I allow myself to paint, draw and create beautiful pieces. <br><br> Currently I work only with my partner. I am the creative mind and the one who elaborates the jewelry, and he is the mathematical and administrative mind. We complement each other very well, because I create all this world of designs and forms, and he helps me to organize it. In the future, I hope to contribute, creating jobs for women who are the heads of their households, and for ethnic, cultural or social minorities. We also hope that the abundance that comes with this project can reach other people in the form of support from foundations, institutions or organizations. <br><br> "As a Costa Rican, I would like the violence in my country to disappear. We used to be a very calm country, but the pressures of the world affect us more and more. I want to be an entity of change for our new generations, to be able to teach many people that if they work hard, good things come to their life. Life is a matter of attitude and dreaming big."