Meet the Artisans
The word 'Artisan' in Colombia represents highly skilled craftspeople who have learned their skills and techniques, from their own family, in their own home.
Most artisans have had little education yet they proudly operate their own traditional businesses.
As their businesses are their main source of income to support their families, they work tirelessly to overcome many obstacles to achieve their dreams of being valued and economically independent.
Casa Bonita’s purpose is to:
- respect and work with the Artisans traditional business model
- economically empower Artisans and Indigenous women and their businesses
- encourage creativity of each Artisan’s skills through collaborations in designing and curating our exclusive one-of-a-kind collections
- assist in preserving the Artisans traditional techniques, so they impart to future generations
- teach the Artisans export procedures and to share our alliances and supply chain
Casa Bonita is committed to connecting our customers with each Artisan; their products, culture, traditions, families and dreams!
Supporting Casa Bonita gives YOU:
- Power to positively impact the lives of 100’s of Indigenous communities
- Peace of Mind that artisans are paid a fair price for their products
- Insight into their culture and businesses, enabling longevity of their traditions
- Knowledge that all products are ethical, sustainable and cruelty free
- Good Karma for supporting women both in South America and Australia …and a colourful, unique and authentic shopping experience!
Blanca and Rolando Rincon
Curití, Santander, Colombia
Blanca and Rolando are master Artisans of hand looming Fique Agave into premium and unique rugs. They specialise in creating vibrant colour and earthy combinations, organic textures and traditional designs, all with a contemporary aesthetic.
Their traditional business employs local people to help with the Fique Agave preparation, drying and the hand looming. From the Fique Agave selection to the finished product, each rug creates one day of work for their business.
Materials:
Fique Agave fibre
Products:
Rugs
Ethically and Sustainably Sourced:
Fique Agave is a natural fibre that grows in the leaves of the native Agave cactus in the Andean regions of Colombia.
The Fique Agave plant is naturally sustainable with a productive lifetime of 15-20 years. as the leaves are only harvested from the base, allowing the plant to grow and thrive.
Fique Agave handicrafts date back a thousand years to the ‘Guane’ tribes.
The fibres are dried, hand combed, dyed with naturally extracted dyes, before being handwoven on a traditional loom or hand crocheted into timeless, unique and versatile fashion accessories and homewares.
Fique is more eco-friendly than other natural fibres as it does not contaminate water, and requires much less water to process it into usable threads. The fibre is also bio-degradable, so when decomposed, it can be used as compost and fertilizer.
Casa Bonita deals directly and respectively with the Artisans and payments are made both on ordering and completion of orders.
All Fique Agave products are made exclusively by hand using traditional techniques, eliminating any machine emissions.
About 70,000 families of farmers live from the Fique Agave plant and the sale of its fibre, creating wide-spread and positive social and economic impact.
Fique Agave fibre advantages are both environmental and sustainable economics.
Interview 2022
Is it a family business? Do you employ other people or do you buy from other artisans?
It is a family business and our children help us in their free time to collaborate and learn. We employ people outside the house who work on specific chores.
What technique do you use? Detail the process and tell us what makes these products so unique.
We work on a handloom. I do the dyeing and my husband finishes the rugs. We use fique agave, wash it, dry it, dye it and then make it into a thread. Our products are unique for their quality and for the 24 years of experience, I thank my father who cultivated fique agave.
What materials do you use?
We use fique agave and various dyes.
Do you impact the community? How?
We give work to women and entire families in the community. While promoting the tradition and teaching other people to do it too.
How many people benefit from Casa Bonita's purchases?
7 - 20 persons.
Social Impact:
- provides financial security to Artisans and Indigenous tribes and their families
- empowers women’s economic independence
- evokes self value and quality of life for the Artisans
- creates legitimate employment opportunities for their communities
- supports environmentally friendly business practices
- encourages creativity, and a sense of personal and group pride
- acknowledges cultural identity and traditions
- preserves and shares Ancestral and Indigenous techniques for future generations