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!

Giovanni Gomez

Pasto, Nariño, South Colombia

Giovanni meticulously creates unique and beautifully handcrafted wooden wheat-veneer earrings. 

Utilising a traditional technique, that originated in the South of Colombia, this master artisan applies coloured chaff to wooden bases, decorating each pair of earrings with culturally significant and contemporary designs.

Giovanni follows the designs that his “hands already have recorded."

Materials:

Wheat and barley chaff

Wooden discs and columns

Silver 925 hook fittings or bronze 24K Colombian Gold plated post and studs 

Products:

Wooden wheat-veneer earrings

Ethically and Sustainably Sourced:

All of his products are handcrafted into culturally significant fashion accessories.

A natural fibre collector undertakes the task of acquiring, selecting and adapting the raw material used to make the veneer: the wheat and barley chaff.

The dyed chaff is then smoothed, sliced and applied to wooden discs or columns. 

Casa Bonita deals directly and respectively with the Artisans and payments are made both on ordering and completion of orders.

Giovanni’s products are made exclusively by hand, using textiles and Artisan techniques, eliminating any machine emissions.

The handcrafted earrings that Giovani specialise in, creates advantages for both environmental and sustainable economics.

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