"Now we're well known in Brazil," Grace shares. "Creollus was started by my mum back in 1999. One day when she was bored out of her mind, she made a belt out of newspaper. People liked it and wanted to know where she had bought it." With this enthusiastic response, Grace's mum started a business and got people from the community to help her. Grace continued "We started hiring from the community without knowing they had expertise and more people joined. The word spread, people knew people. Brazil is a poor country and they have to be creative to look after themselves."

 

As the business grew, Grace wanted to join her mum and take it to a whole new level. Grace says "That's when the name Creollus was born. Our Mayor even got involved. He saw the benefits from recycling, using banana fiber and protecting the environment. It was a win win for everybody."

As we chat to Grace, it's abundantly clear what inspired her to set up Creollus. Grace tells us "Protecting the environment is so important. It's what I've focused on since I was a little girl, and helping others is very important to me and my family. Creollus combines both, by empowering people as well as protecting our environment. And it's a family business."

Over the years, Creollus has grown into a collective of nearly 500 artisans. Some work from their own homes and some come together under one roof. Grace says "The social aspect is very large. We do work with many who are incarcerated. From jail, they make lamps and bags out of coffee filters. They are paid with an Escrow account, but they can't withdraw their earnings. A percentage goes to them which they can access when they leave prison, and a percentage goes to their families. This is just one example of what we do."

Creollus goes so much further than just fair trade and helping the incarcerated to turn around their lives. Grace shares "Many of our artisans have kids, and after school, they have nothing to do. Creollus has a program that takes the kids before or after school, to teach them productive things, so they are not out there doing something they shouldn't. From art to science, we're keeping their minds occupied. It's preventative work."

The fruits of this labour of love have resulted in a mesmerisingly gorgeous range of homewares and fashions to treat yourself. We're loving their attire made from used tire rubber and tire inner tubes. Their Whitley Skirt (pictured right) oozes sex appeal, a not so surprising result when you consider the passion Brazilians are renowned for. And Creollus create designs for men too. Cast you eyes below (left) on their Madison Tire Pants; an innovative trouser for a hip man surely?!