São Paulo – The artisan Monica Carvalho, from Rio de Janeiro, expected nothing but rest from that Carnival in Lavras Novas, in the state of Minas Gerais. Unwittingly, she returned home with a new career inside her luggage. The holder of a degree in Language, she used to teach English and do translations, but she would soon live off her own art. Since 1998, she makes decoration accessories and items using natural raw materials, especially seeds, in her atelier. In addition to selling in Brazil, Monica ships her products to the United Arab Emirates, France and England. Her plan for 2012 is to sell even more overseas, in particular in the Arab world.
An entrepreneur who started creating “at her home porch” and selling “to her students,” she now makes items such as cushions, sculptures, candlesticks, lighting fixtures, pictures, furniture, rings, earrings, purses and necklaces, among others. Everything is adorned with seeds such as tucumã, assai and phytelephas, to name a few. Add to those wood, stones, natural fibres, flax, silver and iron, for instance. “The important thing is to combine materials and work sustainably,” she explains.
To that end, all raw materials are taken from government-approved extraction areas. “In these areas, care is taken to extract only one third of seeds each season, and so forth,” says Monica.
The artist works from her atelier in the Peixoto neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro, with the help of two fixed employees and a network of external collaborators. She also participates in some social projects, such as creation in partnership with inhabitants of Morro de Santa Marta, also in Rio.
The fruits of the artisan’s and her aides’ labour arrived in foreign land by means of a representative hired to promote the items abroad. It was thus that the products reached the stores of British designer Eskandar in countries such as the Emirates, France and England. According to Monica, exports already account for 30% of the atelier revenues.
The target of growing in the international market includes the Arab market. “We know that is where the money is,” says the artisan. “And we are also aware that those markets place great value on elaborate artisanal work such as mine,” she says, with all attention turned to the potential that her Arab clientele holds.
Contact
Monica Carvalho Atelier
Telephone: +55 (21) 2547-9989
Site: www.monicacarvalho.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
