Eva Dabrowska – Co-founder and Creative Director of Moon+Star
Find out about NTU graduate Eva Dabrowska's inspiration for Moon+Star.
Moon+Star is a bold Gen Z jewellery brand built on confidence, creativity and unapologetic self-expression.
At the heart of it is Eva – the creative force behind the collections, shoots and overall vibe. If it involves planning a product drop or bringing a new idea to life, she’s in her element.
Eva describes her energy as playful, expressive and proudly maximalist - which clearly shines through the Moon+Star brand.
Outside of the business, you’ll probably find her horse riding, behind a camera, modelling, or anywhere there’s sunshine involved.
The inspiration behind Moon+Star
Co-founders, Eva and Jack.
Moon+Star launched in April 2024, co-founded by Eva and her boyfriend and business partner, Jack. They started the brand while both studying for their degrees – Eva in Business Management and Marketing at Nottingham Trent University, and Jack in Architectural Environment Engineering at the University of Nottingham.
From the start, they understood the power of playing to their strengths. Eva leads on all things creative and brand, while Jack oversees logistics, stock and the website.
The original idea sprouted from personal experience… while shopping for jewellery, Eva kept noticing the same thing - minimalism everywhere. As someone known among her friends for stacking jewellery unapologetically, she wanted more.
Moon+Star was created to celebrate boldness and individuality. Eva and Jack spotted a gap for trendy, affordable jewellery that feels expressive and fun - especially for Gen Z.
The brand leans into relatable TikToks, strong aesthetics and pieces that make a statement.
I used to get questioned on why I was wearing so much jewellery. But that’s exactly the energy I want Moon+Star to channel.
Milestones so far
1. A dream collaboration
Hosting a Christmas pop-up at Urban Outfitters HQ on Oxford Street was a real pinch-me moment. Hearing back from a brand Eva had been shopping with since she was 16 felt like a huge validation of what they’re building.
2. Rapid online growth
The brand quickly gained momentum online, growing to 80,000 followers on TikTok and 30,000 on Instagram. Seeing their content resonate so strongly confirmed the power of staying authentic and truly understanding their audience.
3. Taking a leap
Registering Moon+Star as a limited company marked the shift from side hustle to serious business. It was a big step - and one that pushed them to think bigger.
Support from NTU Enterprise
Early on, several Moon+Star TikToks went viral and growth happened fast.
With orders increasing and decisions piling up, Eva and Jack suddenly found themselves navigating completely new territory. That’s where NTU Enterprise came in.
The team supported them with practical advice. From deciding whether to hire an accountant, to connecting them with NTU’s in-house, award-winning, teaching law firm NLS Legal, to simply being a sounding board during what felt like a whirlwind period.
They also attended NTU Enterprise’s student and community events, like Entrepreneurs Club and DEC Connect, where they were able to speak openly about their journey and meet other local founders. Being part of that network helped build confidence and reminded them they weren’t doing it alone.
We were thrown in the deep end with no real previous knowledge of running a business, Knowing we could always ask questions made such a difference.
Advice for aspiring student founders
Here's what Eva has to say to those toying with the idea of starting a venture:
My first piece of advice would definitely be:
- Just start. You can edit and improve as you go along.
- Secondly, really research your target audience and find something specific you can own. For us, it’s trendy, affordable maximalist jewellery for Gen Z - brought to life through relatable TikToks and strong aesthetics.
- And finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. NTU Enterprise are so helpful. It’s amazing to have somewhere to start and professionals you can actually talk to and get advice from.
What’s next for Moon+Star?
Eva wants to prioritise community and collaboration - working with more creatives and curating space for others to bring ideas to shoots, shape campaigns and grow alongside the brand.
From the shoots I’ve worked on so far, I can see other people have incredible ideas... I want to give them space to grow Moon+Star with us.