The Women who made your bag

Escama Studio combines sustainable design with fair trade principles to create a new breed of alluring fashion accessories.

Based in San Francisco, Escama Studio works directly with two Brazilian craft cooperatives — Cia do Lacre and As Panteras do Lacre — to design and produce these sleek, modern pieces using traditional crochet techniques and recycled aluminum pull-tabs.

Industry experts warned us that we'd run out of aluminum pull-tabs and advised that we'd need to use machines to get consistent quality.

Luckily experts are sometimes wrong.

Four years and 70,000 bags later we've learned that craftswomen can do something that machines can't: make consistently beautiful bags that are at the same time very personal. We've also learned that the world's abundance of ‘junk’ offers a lot of creative potential.

	My name is Maria Ferreira Bezerra Soares. I was born on March 3, 1966, in the city of Almino Afonso, Rio Grande do Norte. I am married and have 3 children. I was taking some sewing classes when I met people of Cia do Lacre. I loved the work they were doing there, and I decided to join and started learning the work with tabs. Today, this is a new way of making extra money for my family. I am proud to be a part of Cia do Lacre. They have encouraged me to continue the work. Thank you very much for helping us by buying our bags. The more you support us, the more you help our families.
	I am Maria do Carmo Ferreira de Souza, 49 years old, married, and have 2 kids. I am one of the founders of the Cooperativa As Panteras do Lacre. Six years ago, I used to collect garbage, but today I am a part of the group who works with tabs (Art in Tabs). I like it very much! In here, I feel like we are business owners, like we have our own trade. I am a happy woman, because I have work. Thanks to God!
	My name is Girleide Santos de Castro, born May 12th, 1969. I am married and have a girl who was born in 1999. In the past, I worked at a restaurant for 3 years until I became sick with a back problem. It was a very hard thing for me to go through. I went into a very deep depression. Then one day I met a woman called Eveny, who told me she was working at a woman’s group making crafts. She invited me to go and do a test with the group, and that is when I found a new force to fight my depression. Today I feel blessed for being a part of Francisca’s group - As Panteras do Lacre. She is a wonderful person, who gives us strength, as well as a job and new source of income. "We are born to learn and sometimes die without knowing".
	I am Madalena Lopes. I am retired and was born in the historical town of Pirenópolis, Goiás. When I went into retirement, I felt a little lost. That’s when I read an article in the local newspaper about a cooperative called Cia do Lacre. I decided to make a visit and since then, I have become a regular there!! I like it there very much because it gives me great satisfaction!
	My name is Laurencia da Costa Barboza. I am married, have 1 son and was born in Buriti, Minas Gerais. I used to be very depressed and suffered from low self-esteem. But that changed when I started working at Cia do Lacre. My husband supports me in my decision to work at the association, even though it was hard in the beginning. I am thankful for my family, my health and my work.