Today we welcome Tomás Vera, founder and Creative Director of Verdi Design in Bogota, Colombia. Tomás founded his company after the untimely passing of his father, Carlos Vera Dieppa, a pioneer in woven rugs made with natural fibers. He landed back in South America and followed his creative instincts to set about up Verdi, taking its name from the first letters of his father’s surname. He gave his father’s designs an update–and twist by fusing natural and metallic fibers in woven rugs and even spanning into fashion accessories like handcrafted Colombian purses and bags. Today, Verdi is now expanding into modern art as they reinvent traditional design and craftsmanship in country. The result? In a word…magic.
In this episode we talk about:
• How an unexpected family tragedy sparked Tomás’ creative path to design
• The noble intentions behind his sustainable brand and how it’s a tribute to his late father
• What it takes to create a new luxury brand in a noisy market
• Place-based design in home, fashion, and art in Latin American
• The craftsmanship, artisans, and local materials behind Verdi Designs
• Value-driven, socially responsible business
• Challenges and lessons learned in the design business
Resources:
Why Artisans Matter
Net-a-porter Unveils the ‘Colombian Collective’
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