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Claudio Bravo

We have been deeply saddened by the passing of Claudio Bravo, and we honor his memory through the heartfelt words of Hainy Nercessian, from Novica Brazil:

"Claudio was a very kind person and a talented artisan, very reliable in his commitments. He would often drop by the office mostly after office hours as he knew I was there, we enjoyed long conversations. Claudio was very proud and enthusiastic about being part of Novica. He once called to ask if it would be ok to print a leaflet announcing his products at a fair and in our website so that he could distribute them at the harbor to tourists arriving to Rio in Cruises.

"One day, a couple of Japanese tourists were passing by his stall at a fair in Copacabana, they looked at his jewelry and then at him, and suddenly they screamed, "It is him, it is him!" They excitedly said that they knew him because they had bought two of his bracelets though Novica! They took many photos together and when he told me about it, he said it was like being a celebrity for a day! All of us in the office will miss him deeply…

" "I am Argentine and began working in handicrafts while traveling in Brazil. I was fascinated by the seashells and mother of pearl found on the seashore. I traveled a great deal through the country and met a tribal chief who presented me with a net made of the buriti, a palm tree that grows in marshlands. Curiously, the fiber from the net did not irritate the skin as is typical of other palm fibers, and he explained that the treatment given it makes it appropriate for creating adornments and furniture.

"In 1994, I began to work with this material, using craft techniques like macramé. Inspired by the ritual dress of Brazil's native Americans, I began to create bracelets and other designs. I was discovered by a famous jeweler who had a shop two blocks from my house, and I began to supply her with bracelets. The bracelets of palm fiber received luxurious details in 18k gold and they were bought by the rich and famous. Soon my designs were seen on magazine covers and were used by musical groups like E o Tchan! at the height of their success.

"Despite the fact that I was dressing celebrities, my life did not change a lot. People tried to copy my work, but never achieved the standard of quality and the fine finishing of my pieces. I enjoy being an artisan, transforming palm fiber into art and achieving incredible things from its union, that is, the technique of macramé.

"I believe that Novica can take my designs to the entire world, showing the beauty of our exclusive materials and the sophistication of our workmanship."