Bamboleira. A Colombian jewelry brand that has been crafting unique handmade pieces since 2015, inspired by the legacy of ancestral traditions. Natalia Sanchez, the brand creator who’s always been keen on “revolutionizing the fashion consumption and support the conscious art”, told us about her journey, the challenges she faced and the brand’s future aspirations in a one-on-one interview…
What’s the inspiration behind your brand?
Bamboleira is inspired by the autochthonous legacy of Colombian indigenous communities, which transmit their culture through ancestral techniques; knowledge that highlights their creative ability and the authenticity of their art, as expressions of their essence.
A project that began with basic elements of costume jewelery, gradually became a benchmark for the fashion industry, since the need to include communities from remote and vulnerable regions, took the brand to identify unique ancient knowledge, which could be represented in jewelry and other high-quality pieces.
How would you describe your designs?
Our designs recreate the origins and the passing of cultures that are closely connected with the universe. We use natural fibers that through colors and fabrics tell stories allusive to their way of life, their desires and an unstoppable force, characteristic of the members of these ethnic groups.
The pieces have the Colombian Pacific imprint, and are the reflection of the natural diversity that we find in our country’s forest. They are creations that allude to the sunrises and sunsets of our regions. Its shapes and textures are the manifestations of the talent of each of our artisans.
Bamboleira is movement, it is tradition and life.
In your opinion, what makes your brand stand out?
Bamboleira was the first brand to use the fiber of the werregue palm to make jewelry. We combine ancient techniques with contemporary trends, ideal for rescuing the qualities of today’s woman. Our designs preserve the roots of Latin American culture, which is characterized by its authenticity, and the handmade work of artisans who transform the natural elements of our territories into works of art.
We want our communities to have a better quality of life, through fairly paid work, according to their knowledge and the unique value that only they can offer to our pieces.
As an online accessories store, how do you create the real feel for your clients?
Bamboleira since its inception has wanted to show the importance of its artisans during the creative process and jewelry production. They have been the main engine of the brand: their history is summarized in strength and resilience, because at some point, and due to violence, they were forced to abandon their place and their customs, to face the city chaos.
We want to show the feelings of the communities, and the way in which they preserve the legacy from generation to generation, through the transfer of artisanal knowledge and techniques, which continue to be a fundamental part of their economic livelihood.
Did you notice any change in the costumer’s behavior when it comes to buying accessories during and after covid-19? How did this impact your brand?
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, people have been more interested in really knowing which internal processes the brand has been through. Learn about who makes it up, how is the process of making our pieces, and what is the work we carry out with our artisans. Today brands must present their most human and sensitive part; They must show their most real side to generate affinity with buyers; and of course, show the direct impact that each idea has on society.
What has been your biggest struggle as a jewelry brand and how did you overcome it?
The biggest struggle, in the first place, has been the difficulty in handling the types of equipment that are part of the brand; in this case, assure that the entire Bamboleira family works for the same purpose. For this, we have had to generate processes of adaptation to the habits of the indigenous people, and that in turn, they adapt to ours, because despite the fact that at this time they are settled in the capital and have become accustomed to a city stylelife different from the one they had, they bring with them a very pronounced culture and unique patterns of life, characteristic of their ethnic group. For this reason, the team has had to synchronize in order to do things well.
On the other hand, there is the production issue. Bamboleira is a 100% handmade and handcrafted brand. Then, there are details of manual work that for many are considered imperfect; making people understand that the new luxury is handmade, sustainable, has not been easy.
We noticed that your collections are always handmade using 24-karat gold and natural fibers, which makes them very sustainable. How important is it for you to take the sustainability aspect into consideration when crafting your pieces?
Bamboleira takes up the raw material and ecological components that communities have used for years to produce products, which in addition to rescuing the aesthetics of the designs and the ancestral value of the creations, are consolidated as a pattern in the theme of sustainable fashion.
In addition to the daily exploration of the werregue palm fiber, the natural dyes and the organic pigments, so perfectly worked by the artisans, Bamboleira continues to research and diversify processes that protect the environment and help, in the first place, the workers, their families and the communities from which the resources are exploited.
How important was it for a Colombian brand like you to have an exposure in the GCC market?
The GCC is a market that has a lot of potential, and being present in some of the countries that comprise it is key for our brand. We want to continue taking the image of Colombia around the world, and share the legacy of our indigenous communities with different cultures. These types of exchanges enrich our vision in terms of fashion perspectives, and the message that the buyer wants to find in the brand. The Bamboleira Universe, which reflects the Latin essence through designs inspired by the wealth and traditions of our people, seeks to find affinity with a public that believes in the concept of conscious and sustainable fashion.
Based on your experience, how does the GCC market differ from the Colombian one?
In economic matters, this is a conglomerate of growing countries, with a strong currency that Colombia is not currently having.
Now, with respect to the use of jewelry given by women, despite the fact that the place and situations in which they display them are different in the GCC countries with respect to Colombia, we have found that vanity and femininity stand out in any circumstance. We all want to feel pretty, attractive and wanting to stand out; It is what characterizes us, and our pieces fulfill the objective of making us feel authentic and empowered.
Where do you see your brand 5 years from now?
Bamboleira wants to conquer every corner of the world. We started with jewelry and at this moment we have managed to materialize a universe of new proposals, which include textile and decoration pieces. We want to involve more indigenous communities in Latin America, so that their culture continues to be preserved, to put aside the concept of vulnerability that has accompanied them for years, and so that their knowledge can obtain greater value in the field of local and international fashion.
What’s your message to all the new small jewelry/accessory brands out there who are trying to make it nowadays in a very competitive market?
The most important message is that they manage to differentiate themselves from others, based on a strong and unique concept; that they generate a value proposition that transcends the purchase and sale plan, and actually satisfies the client’s needs; that they understand the objectives of their company, and where they want to take it. Having a clear, persistent and trial and error vision is vital to consolidate in such a competitive market.
You can find their items on our pop-up shop!
