Behind The Brand / Palorosa
Developing a creative relationship with the artisanal weaving culture of Guatemala has, for ex-architect Cecilia Pirani, become central to her beautiful bag brand, Palorosa. From her Milan base her bags have become a global go-to, due to the unique colour combinations and their focus on practicality for everyday use. Here she tells us about the motivation of failure and the creative curiosity that drives her every day.
Cecilia wears the Candy Stripe Shirt and LM Denim Cropped Jean.
There is some magical about the way you intersect artisanal techniques with contemporary materials and design, alongside a light minimal aesthetic which is also extremely robustness. Did it take you long to get the business to this point where it all seems to sing?
It’s the result of many things: lots of passion, curiosity, determination, a bit of courage and lots of research. Also, the freedom to be spontaneous and follow our intuition plays a big role. My past in architecture and design combines with experiences in everyday life. I also pay close attention to the mistakes, which inevitably happen along the way, and which helped me in developing Palorosa - first as a project - and then a global brand.
There is a joy in the everyday utility of the bags. Do you like that their use is embedded in daily life, as opposed to being kept for one-off occasions?
I love that they can be used every day! The Palorosa Basket is the ‘everyday basket’ by its very definition. It is light, easy-to-match and chic. Depending on the colour and model, you can take it to the farmers’ market as well as to work, you can fill it with everything from veggies to fabrics or even just a phone and a wallet. My goal, through the different colours and weaving is for them to adapt to different aesthetics and lifestyles, so that everyone can benefit from them.
Cecilia wears the Candy Stripe Shirt.
What is the biggest compliment the brand has ever had?
That we are consistent and coherent. One day a lady walked in our Milanese spot and told me she liked Palorosa because she found it to be a really coherent brand in its public image, communications and story.
When you click on our Instagram and scroll down our feed the sequence of images, colours, and framing brings you back to the same imaginary and aesthetics which characterise the photographic projects posted on our website. In the same way, when you enter our studio and showroom in Milan you find the consistency of atmosphere and feeling: the artisanal minimalism which results from the encounter of Guatemala and Milan - the architecture, alongside neutral, calm colours in a well-kept space.
Nature, the seasons, and the slices of life you see in Guatemala are an important reference point for your colour palettes. How do you know where you have got the tone right to add to the range?
Once I begin to interact with a colour, I always reflect on what this colour means with respect to the existing ones in the collection. I’m always looking for the right balance, for both a conceptual and chromatic relationship, as I like to imagine a story that can tell more about that colour.
The colour we end up producing isn’t always what I first imagined, as there are often slight differences as we move through the process, but there is undoubtedly beauty in developing something from zero.
Cecilia wears the Zoe Shirt.
It is wonderful to see how the artisans work by hand, on timber frames and the skills they use in creating patterns and texture. Is the process of creation a two-way street – do you learn from them as much as they do from you?
It’s a constant and reciprocal exchange. It has always been like this, from the very beginning. The choice of creating a direct relationship with the artisans I work with allowed me to discover so many new things and to grow my imagination and my knowledge. Over time, I’ve been able to instil my aesthetics in the brand, but I also think that, in parallel, the aesthetics of Palorosa have been influenced, naturally and spontaneously, by many of the women I work with.
The fact that you use recycled plastics is an important sustainable statement, while combining with leather and cotton to give a lovely balance while reinforcing the premium nature and artisanal skill of what you produce. How important is the use of recycled materials to you?
Quality and solidity are very important factors while choosing materials. Being sustainable, is a goal to reach, it is our aim. It is also multifaceted - working with discarded or recycled materials, and plastics in a particular, is not easy. To obtain our best quality and ensure the product is resilient we are currently relying on a supplier mixing both virgin and recycled plastics. Our priority is to offer clients an object with longevity.
When it comes to your home – how would you describe your interior style?
I’d say it is decorated with colours and materials that keep the place calm and minimal ,but also warm and cosy.
What are the three things you love the most and why?
For the interior space itself it is the height, along with the neutral and warm colours. But also my collection of objects and ceramics!
What’s the last thing significant thing you bought?
A magazine-book, “Tools-To Weave”. Since I can’t have a million baskets at home, I opted for a beautiful, recently printed publication on techniques and the story of braiding.
I recently bought the Bellhop Table Lamp (by Barber & Osgerby for Flos) a portable light, in white, which is amazing as you can move it around the house. Finally an incredible floral fragrance with a unique glass small bottle.
What is most important to you in a home – light, comfort, things you love?
Everything! The natural light, the space and things, beloved collections of things: terracotta, ceramics, photography and art books, textiles.
Cecilia wears the Zoe Dress.
What 5 words best describe you?
Sunny
Stubborn
Curious and creative
Reliable
Hyperactive, I never stop!
(I asked to my co-worker’s :))
With Palorosa such a loved brand - sold in many countries around the world – what do you you feel most appeals to your customers? And do see differences depending on the location of the customer?
I think that the lines and the essential nature of the bags are the first appealing factors for customers - together with their unique colour palette. Then, it is the story of the brand, and its heritage. Of course the location of the customer generates many differences in terms of colours and choices of model, but definitely the iconic basket style is the one that is most universally loved.
Cecilia wears the Lewis Overcoat.
bEHIND THE BRAND / PALOROSA
Developing a creative relationship with the artisanal weaving culture of Guatemala has, for ex-architect Cecilia Pirani, become central to her beautiful bag brand, Palorosa. From her Milan base her bags have become a global go-to, due to the unique colour combinations and their focus on practicality for everyday use. Here she tells us about the motivation of failure and the creative curiosity that drives her every day.
Cecilia wears the Candy Stripe Shirt and LM Denim Cropped Jean.
There is some magical about the way you intersect artisanal techniques with contemporary materials and design, alongside a light minimal aesthetic which is also extremely robustness. Did it take you long to get the business to this point where it all seems to sing?
It’s the result of many things: lots of passion, curiosity, determination, a bit of courage and lots of research. Also, the freedom to be spontaneous and follow our intuition plays a big role.
My past in architecture and design combines with experiences in everyday life. I also pay close attention to the mistakes, which inevitably happen along the way, and which helped me in developing Palorosa - first as a project - and then a global brand.
There is a joy in the everyday utility of the bags. Do you like that their use is embedded in daily life, as opposed to being kept for one-off occasions?
I love that they can be used every day! The Palorosa Basket is the ‘everyday basket’ by its very definition. It is light, easy-to-match and chic. Depending on the colour and model, you can take it to the farmers’ market as well as to work, you can fill it with everything from veggies to fabrics or even just a phone and a wallet. My goal, through the different colours and weaving is for them to adapt to different aesthetics and lifestyles, so that everyone can benefit from them.
Cecilia wears the Candy Stripe Shirt.
What is the biggest compliment the brand has ever had?
That we are consistent and coherent. One day a lady walked in our Milanese spot and told me she liked Palorosa because she found it to be a really coherent brand in its public image, communications and story.
When you click on our Instagram and scroll down our feed the sequence of images, colours, and framing brings you back to the same imaginary and aesthetics which characterise the photographic projects posted on our website. In the same way, when you enter our studio and showroom in Milan you find the consistency of atmosphere and feeling: the artisanal minimalism which results from the encounter of Guatemala and Milan - the architecture, alongside neutral, calm colours in a well-kept space.
Nature, the seasons, and the slices of life you see in Guatemala are an important reference point for your colour palettes. How do you know where you have got the tone right to add to the range?
Once I begin to interact with a colour, I always reflect on what this colour means with respect to the existing ones in the collection. I’m always looking for the right balance, for both a conceptual and chromatic relationship, as I like to imagine a story that can tell more about that colour.
The colour we end up producing isn’t always what I first imagined, as there are often slight differences as we move through the process, but there is undoubtedly beauty in developing something from zero.
Cecilia wears the Zoe Shirt.
It is wonderful to see how the artisans work by hand, on timber frames and the skills they use in creating patterns and texture. Is the process of creation a two-way street – do you learn from them as much as they do from you?
It’s a constant and reciprocal exchange. It has always been like this, from the very beginning. The choice of creating a direct relationship with the artisans I work with allowed me to discover so many new things and to grow my imagination and my knowledge.
Over time, I’ve been able to instil my aesthetics in the brand, but I also think that, in parallel, the aesthetics of Palorosa have been influenced, naturally and spontaneously, by many of the women I work with.
The fact that you use recycled plastics is an important sustainable statement, while combining with leather and cotton to give a lovely balance while reinforcing the premium nature and artisanal skill of what you produce. How important is the use of recycled materials to you?
Quality and solidity are very important factors while choosing materials. Being sustainable, is a goal to reach, it is our aim. It is also multifaceted - working with discarded or recycled materials, and plastics in a particular, is not easy. To obtain our best quality and ensure the product is resilient we are currently relying on a supplier mixing both virgin and recycled plastics. Our priority is to offer clients an object with longevity.
When it comes to your home – how would you describe your interior style?
I’d say it is decorated with colours and materials that keep the place calm and minimal, but also warm and cosy.
What are the three things you love the most and why?
For the interior space itself it is the height, along with the neutral and warm colours. But also my collection of objects and ceramics!
What’s the last thing significant thing you bought?
A magazine-book, “Tools-To Weave”. Since I can’t have a million baskets at home, I opted for a beautiful, recently printed publication on techniques and the story of braiding.
I recently bought the Bellhop Table Lamp (by Barber & Osgerby for Flos) a portable light, in white, which is amazing as you can move it around the house. Finally an incredible floral fragrance with a unique glass small bottle.
What is most important to you in a home – light, comfort, things you love?
Everything! The natural light, the space and things, beloved collections of things: terracotta, ceramics, photography and art books, textiles.
Cecilia wears the Zoe Dress.
What 5 words best describe you?
Sunny
Stubborn
Curious and creative
Reliable
Hyperactive, I never stop!
(I asked to my co-worker’s :))
With Palorosa such a loved brand - sold in many countries around the world – what do you you feel most appeals to your customers? And do see differences depending on the location of the customer?
I think that the lines and the essential nature of the bags are the first appealing factors for customers - together with their unique colour palette. Then, it is the story of the brand, and its heritage.
Of course the location of the customer generates many differences in terms of colours and choices of model, but definitely the iconic basket style is the one that is most universally loved.
Cecilia wears the Lewis Overcoat.