Italian vegan accessories brand Themoirè has released the third chapter of its Together by Themoirè annual project, which is aimed at creating dialogues among communities of artisans and spotlighting people from minority backgrounds.
After tying up with a Mexican community in Oxchuc, Chiapas, and heading to Madagascar for the co-creation of raffia bags with local talents, founders Francesca Monaco and Salar Bicheranloo traveled to Sandonà, Colombia, to work with 200 tejedoras (women artisans).
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As a result, a collection of bags handcrafted from the natural fibers of the iraca palm was developed, with all proceeds from its sales to be donated to finance local charity initiatives and “assist tejedoras’ children with disabilities and special needs,” said Monaco. Previous projects brought drinkable water in rural schools and financed orphanages.
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Different artisanal techniques were employed in the creation of the new line, including a large weaving and a finer one with a gradient color effect obtained by a handmade dyeing process.
In addition to revisiting signature Themoirè designs such as the Tia and Bios clutches, artisans worked on the new Flor and Phoebe styles, with the former making for an ample tote bag with a gently rounded shape and the latter offering a softer take on the bucket model.
Priced between 400 euros and 490 euros, the collection is available at Themoirè’s online store, a selection of its stockists as well as spotlighted at a pop-up at Rinascente in Milan that will run through June 24.
The department store adds to the expanding distribution footprint of the brand, which currently counts 300 multibrand stores — 100 of which are only in Italy — including Modes, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Beymen, among others. The brand also recently entered China and Hong Kong via Lane Crawford.
Last year, Themoirè had 4.3 million euros in sales and projects to report a 20 percent increase in revenues this year. Italy accounts for 41 percent of its total sales, making it a key market along with the U.S. and followed by Middle East and European countries such as France and Spain.
Launched in 2019, the brand garnered attention for its bags combining a vintage flair with eco-friendly materials. These span from natural ones, such as cork, cotton, raffia, wood and straw; recycled options like nylon threads, post-consumer denim and eco-fur; waterborne polyurethane leather, and innovative alternatives, including fabrics derived from nopal cactus, pineapple leaves, apple waste and orange peels, to name a few.
Recent additions include styles crafted from Wastea, made from processed tea waste; Palma, developed using the pruning residues of the Alicante palm tree, and Sorona, produced by processing corn seeds mixed with polyester fiber for soft, furry textures. Themoirè also introduced footwear in 2022.