VirtuArte.com

Tomorrow is Earth Day!!  This year's theme is A Billion Acts of Green.  Have you made your Act of Green pledge yet?  To mark this day we decided to do two things:

• Feature artists whose Act of Green is to work with artisans in Brazil to create eco-friendly, fashion forward products; and
• Offer one winner the opportunity to select a gift from one of our three featured artists. (Read further to learn how to enter.)

The last artist to be featured this month is Patricia Amsellem.

In 2004, Patricia Amsellem, originally from France, settled in Brasilia, the federal capital city of Brazil.  Very quickly, she became captivated by the talent of the region's designers and artisans.  Patricia decided to launch her own label, Patams, to create a line of fashion accessories made by groups of artisans in the cities surrounding Brasilia, mixing modern trends with local traditions.

The Patams collections, Cerrado and Bacana, include unique and original pieces that can be used to accessorize both casual and formal attire.  Promoting Brazil's natural heritage, each borrows from nature's resources -- "de-chlorophylled" leaves and the Minimum Density Fiber (MDF).

Cerrado Collection
The Cerrado collection is inspired by a particular Brazilian vegetation of the same name.  Originally the Cerrado grew on 1.3 million square miles of land.  Today its coverage has been reduced to only 20% of its previous area.  The collection consists of unusual, creative pieces made of natural leaves gathered in the Cerrado region.  The leaves are "de-chlorophllized," dyed and combined with natural fiber or leather laces, which are then crocheted or plaited.

Roze Santos Mendes, the artisan Patricia works with, loves creating these amazing pieces.  This is done in a caring and enduring concern for conservation of the environment they live in.  Nothing is wasted, and damaged leaves or branches are used for special purposes.  Her love of nature is apparent in the richness and diversity of their creations.

Bacana Collection
The Bacana collection gets its uniqueness by the innovative style it uses and the application of MDF (Minimum Density Fiber) also called Madeiro Do Futuro "wood of the future."  MDF is a composite product, composed of eucalyptus and pine wood residues.  To work with MDF requires patience, as there are a number of different steps necessary to make these wooden jewelry pieces.  Elizabeth Aquino, the artisan, works with shapes, spaces and colors to create this beautiful line of fashion accessories.

Company Mission
Patams' strives to:

• Show that ethical fashion can be cutting edge chic, yet socially and environmentally friendly.
• Explore and introduce the fashion world to the cultural influences of emerging countries like Brazil, encouraging economic development by working with local artisans and co-operatives.
• Demonstrate that ethical fashion -- an undeniable and growing phenomenon in society today -- has a large market.
• Increase artisans' earning power, thereby nurturing development in their communities to create more jobs and enhance educational opportunities for them and their families.

Patricia will continue to diversity her Cerrado line by introducing new fashion pieces including belts, hair accessories and bracelets.  This year she will also begin working with a group of seven women who live in the Sao Paulo region and have been trained to work with leaves from trees that grow in the reforestation area of the property they live on.

Last Day to Enter Our Earth Day Promotion
Tomorrow we will draw the name of one winner who will be able to select one gift from our three artists featured this month.  One of the choices is the Cerrado Flower Brooch by Patricia Amsellem.

To enter our drawing please send your name and e-mail address to ecochic@virtuarte.com