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. 

There is something magical about the way you intersect artisanal techniques with contemporary materials and design, alongside a light minimal aesthetic which is also extremely robust. 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. 

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. 

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 sustainability statement, and combining this with leather and cotton creates a lovely balance that reinforces 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.

 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.

Photographed by Stefania Zanetti

Words by Karen McCartney

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. 

There is something magical about the way you intersect artisanal techniques with contemporary materials and design, alongside a light minimal aesthetic which is also extremely robust. 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. 

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. 

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 sustainability statement, and combining this with leather and cotton creates a lovely balance that reinforces 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.

 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.

Photographed by Stefania Zanetti

Words by Karen McCartney