The Time I when to Venezuela to make the Rhythm bags collection

This is my first collection of leather bags I made in Venezuela, my home country. 

It was a real challenge due to the political and economic situation there but thanks to all the people who helped me to get some materials in Colombia, and I am talking about going to the frontier in Cucuta by bus, something absolutely dangerous! thanks also to the people who helped me to find a really good leather artisan which was perfect by the way, and thanks to all the people who told me to never give up in this dream.

At the end everything started to move forwards and we finally made it! I bought the leather, I found the artisan, the hardware and started to work in them. even if I was in Italy I was very into the process of the productin. 

You can see how beautiful and good made they turned out to be. 

The RHYTHM Bags collection is inspired by the musical instruments of Venezuela, Arpa, Tamborera and Bandolina. I specially wanted to create the rythm of Venezuelan music, mixing them with the feeling of contemporary music festivals and shows there to finally get that sensation of cultural dinamism  

I am so proud of the results and how many of these bags I have sold around the globe. I am sure they’re dancing around the world!

The time I shoot Rug-bags

About photo-shootings…A great photographer, Amarylis Cargning contacted me to make this dream happen! Her model and makeup artist did an amazing job! The pictures were supposed to be nude using just the RUG-bags to cover the body of the model. I think the results were very sexy and elegant at the same time, the pictures really highlights the quality of the bags and you can see how delicate and colorful they are. The rug fabric looks amazing and metal chain details are lighted up in a magnificent way. I just love when people is so kind to share their work with me. I still use the picture for my catalogues and publicity, because this shooting is one of the best I have collaborated to.

This collection of handbags are totally handmade with this beautiful rug fabric made of cotton, washable and durable, I made probably around 15 different bags, some of them I sold in markets here in Rome and other I still sell them online, you can see some of them here: https://it.dawanda.com/shop/j-somoza

The time I made the pagoda bags

My very first leather bag collection! I put all my effort and so much money in the creation of these bags… I used a bright weird and powerful combination of colors because I wanted them to excel from the regular stuff. The design took me weeks because when you have few money to invest you want your product to be perfect. Picking the right leather artisan was a bit difficult, all the moments of the production and post-production were really tuff but I don’t regret it! At the end they turned out to be perfect! I learned a lot with all this and they somehow have been everywhere shooting my name out loud.

Versión en Español

La mia prima Collezione di borse in pelle! Ci ho messo tutto il mio sforzo e tanti soldi nella creazione di queste borse... Ho usato una abbinamento di colori ben strano, viavace e potente perche volevo andare un po' oltre la normalità. Per il disegno ci ho messo settimane a finirlo perche di solito quando hai pochi soldi da investire vuoi che il tuo prodotto sia perfetto. Scegliere il miglior artigiano non è stato facile, tutti i momenti di produzione e post-produzione sono stati duri, ma non mi lamento! Alla fine sono venute perfette! Ho imparato tantissimo e in qualche modo le mie borse sono state ovunque a spargere il mio nome.

Versione en Italiano

Mi primera colección de carteras de piel! Puse todo mi esfuerzo y tanto dinero en la creación de estas bolsas… Utilice una combinación de colores un poco extraña, llamativa y potente porque quería salir fuera de lo común. El diseño me tomo semanas hacerlo porque cuando tienes tan poco dinero para invertir quieres que tu producto quede perfecto. Escoger el artesano justo fue algo muy difícil, toda la producción y post-producción fue muy dura, pero no me lamento! Al final todo quedó perfecto! He aprendido muchísimo y de alguna u otra manera las bolsas han estado en todos lados gritando fuerte mi nombre.

The time I made a crowdfunding project for me to go to Vancouver Fashion Week

A crowdfunding campaign it’s one of the best ways to help grow your business or to make your dream come true, in my case! Thanks to all the people that helped me, the ones that supported me economically and the ones who shared the video every time they could, thanks to all of them I could participate to Vancouver Fashion week and pay some of the travel expenses. Something I would never forget! The making of the video was a blast and it was so funny to do, I was so tired because of the actual making of the collection that I can believe it turned out great. You should give it a try to crowdfunding online campaigns to reach your goals!

Versión en Español

La campaña de recolección de fondos es una de las mejores formas de hacer crecer tu negocio o en mi caso hacer cumplir tus sueños! Gracias a toda la gente que me ayudo, a aquellos que me apoyaron económicamente y aquellos que compartían el video cada vez que podían, gracias a todos ellos pude participar a la semana de la moda de Vancouver y pagar algunos de los gastos. Es algo que nunca podré olvidar! La realización del video fue genial, un vacilón, y eso que estaba continuamente cansada por la colección que no puedo creer que a la final todo salió espectacular. Deberías probar a hacer una campaña de recolección de fondos para lograr tus metas!

Versione en Italiano

Una campagna di colletta di fondi è una delle megliore forme di far crescere il tuo business oppure nel mio caso far avverare il tuo sogno! Grazie a tutte le persone che mi hanno aiutato, quelli che hanno appoggiato economicamente e quelli che condividevano il video tutte le volte che potevano. Grazie a tutti loro Io ho potuto partecipare alla settimana della moda di Vancouver e pagare alcune delle spese. È una cosa che non dimenticherò mai! La realizzazione del video è stata geniale, molto divertente, anche se ero sempre stanca per occuparmi della collezzione non ci posso ancora credere che alla fine è venuto un risultato cosi perfetto. Potresti provare a fare una campagna crowdfunding per raggiungere i tuoi obiettivi