Multicolored Cotton Cosmetic Bag from Costa Rica, "Color and Tradition"

“My name is Mónica Gamboa. I was born in the canton of Turrialba in 1974. Currently I live in San Rafael de Oreamuno, Cartago, Costa Rica at the foot of the imposing Irazú volcano. I have dedicated myself to making fabric products. I design and make my products with a lot of love and dedication, because I love being able to express my skills as an artisan in them.

“My grandparents were born in Desamparados de San José, Costa Rica. Almost 100 years ago they went to water seeds in the mountains in Turrialba; there was no one in this area at that time, and they had to live on what they sowed and could maintain. At that time they used flour sacks to dress and store food. It was something very normal, and my grandmother who died last year at 100 years of age was the one who encouraged me to use this type of material to make my products. She was the one who taught me sewing, and the one that gave me ideas and advice. For me they have great sentimental value--this line of products is in honor of Silvia Gamboa, my grandmother, a simple but hard-working and admirable woman.

“My dream began when I had to leave my workplace for my baby, because I needed to find a way to provide for my children. The idea of an enterprising mom is innate for modern moms, who are looking to have time for their jobs, their children and themselves. At that time I started developing fabric products to stop using plastic, a material that is so harmful today for our planet. This allowed me to have a business with social responsibility, so that little by little we can have more reusable products.

“My dream is to be able to provide more work to women like me in my community. I needed to be able to start from scratch with this job and I have succeeded. I want them to have a daily livelihood, where they do not have to sacrifice time dedicated to the home and the children. To help them take on that important role in society and to feel capable of fulfilling their dreams as working women. At the moment, I have 5 collaborators who work from home.

“Thanks to all of your purchases, we can give women jobs and thus help many families. This gives enormous value to their current quality of life, and for this we are very grateful for the trust placed in our products. I love being able to show the beauty of Costa Rica in my products, and also being able to apply the traditions of my grandmothers.”