When Carolina Rocha moved to Milan to complete her master’s degree in management of luxury goods, she was struck by the pride that the words “made in Italy” inspired in those around her. This experience got her thinking about the label “handmade in Colombia,” and how she wanted to create the same value and pride for her people. When she returned to Colombia, she decided to create Carola, a 100% Colombian sustainable handbag brand inspired by her motherland and dedicated to empowering women and single mothers.
Carolina was born in Bogota, Colombia. Since her childhood, she has felt attracted to beautiful things and valued creativity, she told IQLatino. She played the piano at six years old, and started riding horses and competing in show jumping between nine and 11. “I come from a family where everyone knows how to hand-knit, so I have always liked handmade things. I love the fact of knowing that something is unique, because something made with the hands can never be made exactly the same again,” she explained. Carolina studied business administration in London, where she realized she wanted to work in the fashion industry and relocated to Milan to pursue her master’s.
Upon her return to Colombia, she began to put the puzzle pieces together to create Carola. She knew she wanted to create a brand focused on sustainability, good quality products and unique designs. Her mother, Maria Rocha, a civil engineer with amazing artistic talent, served as her support system and pointed out a fact that would become a cornerstone of her brand: in Colombia, 41% of mothers are abandoned by their partners and have to support their children alone. From this reality, the idea of creating a brand to empower and create opportunities for women, and especially single mothers, was born. Carolina serves as the founder and creative director.
Carola handbags are designed and inspired by the beautiful nature of Colombia, Carolina explained. Each unique bag is 100% hand-knitted exclusively by single mother artisans and the Jiw and Nukak indigenous tribes from the Colombian Amazonia, and can take up to 28 days to be knitted. “We want to give back to our communities their dignity and give them a voice to make our world a better place,” Carolina said. “Wearing a Carola bag is about making the dreams of many people come true, this is why all our bags are unique,” she added. Carola prioritizes respect of the environment and the use of natural, organic and recycled materials, like 100% organic silk, cumare palm trees, and natural dyes. “The whole process, from the planting of mulberry, cultivation of warms and the elaboration of the threads is realized by 200 families, victims of the armed conflict whom in this initiative have found a harmonious stability and peace, allowing them to leave their difficult past behind,” she said.
Although Carola was launched as the coronavirus pandemic struck in the beginning of March, which has affected the shipping of materials, the brand has grown tremendously. They have already launched two collections, and gotten worldwide exposure and recognition from magazines like Vogue Mexico, Vanity Fair and Elle Italia. “Being listed in the ‘must-have’ handbags in Vanity Fair Italia next to the most amazing and recognized brands from all over the world is unbelievable!” Carolina said.
As for advice for fellow Latino entrepreneurs who would like to start their own brands or ventures, “go for it, stop waiting for the right moment. We cannot wait until we believe we have everything and it is the perfect time,” she said. Additionally, she reminds them to do things in their own way, not how they think they should because of other people, and to remember how much inspiration Latin America has to offer.
Check out Carola handbags on their website and Instagram. Additionally, they can be found at the New York City Showfields Christmas pop up.