Behind the Scenes: Recycled Soda Pull Tab Handbag Partner Talks with Jute and Jackfruit in Brazil

While traveling in Brazil recently, I had the opportunity to meet Sandra Pereira Leal (pictured below right), who works on the production side of Escama Studio in Brazil, and is a core members of the Escama team.

Escama studio is one of Jute and Jackfruit’s main handbag partners, not only because the handbags are so beautiful and well made, but also because their mission is so closely aligned with that of Jute and Jackfruit’s. Escama Studio strives to create innovative and stylish products from post-consumer and other sustainable materials, through partnerships with producers in underprivileged communities. Their flagship products are sleek, handcrafted women’s handbags made from recycled aluminum tabs. Escama Studio products are fair trade, and Escama is a member of Fair Trade Federation. Andy Krumholz is the founder of Escama based in CA with lead partner Socorro Leal Schwiderski in Brazil. Below are some highlights from our conversation in Sao Paulo:

Sandra, can you tell me more about how you and the Escama team came up with the idea of making bags with recycling product? And why can tabs specifically?
First, the idea is not mine. Everything started when Andy visited Brazil in 2002 and made contact with artisans who produced accessories with embroidery and recycled can tabs. After a year and a half of trying to adapt modern designs to traditional Brazilian workmanship (with no experience on the accessories business), Andy invited Socorro Schwiderski to help out. Immediately forming a successful partnership, the two developed the first line of Escama Studio’s stylish collection of innovative products of sustainable products.

Can you tell us more about the cooperatives? How many women work for you now? I also saw that men are part of the co-operatives. Is that new?
The co-operatives are located in a poverty belt around Brasilia. According to Brazil’s Department of Justice, this location is one of the most violent urban centers in the country due to last years’ intensive and disordered development. Without proper infrastructure and enough job offers available for the growing population, some women organized themselves around a common goal: generating income and increasing self-esteem. Today there are more than 60 women and some men, husbands and artisans’ sons and daughters in a symbiotic relation of deep respect and cooperation.

How do you meet the women?
Socorro had lived in US for 20 years and as soon as she came back to Brazil in 2004 she started to research different groups of artisan communities and other women. Sometimes I had the opportunity to visit various associations with Socorro that she identified. I found many familiar faces, faces of warrior women ready for any challenge in their lives.

Pictured left, one of the women artisans in Brazil making a recycled soda pull tab handbag.

Do you have any special programs in Brazil?
Escama Studio has a partnership with HSBC bank and opened more than 70 checking accounts (for the artisans). So now the payment for the associations can be done online. Escama also donates money to the artisans to help them participate in community’s informatics (computer) classes. The initial idea was to have a partnership with a Brazilian nonprofit organization, the CDI’s digital inclusion program. The women could go to CDI and learn informatics (computer training) for free. Unfortunately the partnership did not work out as such due to the distance between the classes and the associates; however they can still take these classes with the stipend from Escama.

A percentage of gross sales are also invested in training for co-operatives. Such funds have already been used for several purposes such as for computers, scanners, printers, furniture and archive purchases. Furthermore, today the associations already have cable. In one of them it was possible to enlarge the space for production and to construct a dining hall. Such an impact on these women’s lives is very meaningful and tangible. Today, many women depend entirely on Escama Studio to earn their living.

Pictured above: the Leda Bag by Escama Studio

Do you have plans to create bags with other recycling products?
Escama Studio is a design and collaborative studio…so as long as a good idea fits with our social and environmental values it is always welcome. We are evaluating new ways of aggregating materials made out of reused raw materials with low energy generation like the ecologic leather.

Today you sell your products in various boutiques, Museum shops, online (such as Jute and Jackfruit) and in various parts of the world. In which country do you sell most? Are there new countries where you plan to expand?

We have good sales in several parts of the world with large consumption in the US. We also have good relations with England, Japan, Hong Kong, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Holland and Australia. We would like to expand our sales to German, Spain and France because women there are very stylish.

How do you communicate your brand to customers?
Primarily through television and internet. But the most important promotion is done through our clients who buy not only accessories but also the idea of uniting beauty and sustainability.