Made in Amazon was created with the purpose of being more than just an online store; it functions as a link between producers and residents of the forest and an audience that would otherwise have difficulty accessing these works outside the region. Thus, the platform aims to give visibility to artists and communities from the Amazon in Brazil and on the world stage.
For an item originating from the Amazon bioeconomy to become a commercial asset, it is necessary to go beyond good presentation. According to Pamela Mota Oliveira, the platform's founder, the process begins with rigorous selection. She explains that they seek a keen eye, a curation that combines contemporary elements with traditional craftsmanship, recognizing that the consumer, whether tourist or not, has high expectations for quality, and that pieces with Amazonian identity add differentiated value.
The manager emphasizes that the challenge is to demonstrate that modern style and craftsmanship are not mutually exclusive. The goal is to reinforce that the products, even if handmade, can be applied in multiple ways—whether to decorate a space, create jewelry, put together an outfit, or even a recipe—presenting them as modern and timeless.
Rita Prossi, a partner biojewelry designer, exemplifies this proposal by transforming Amazonian fibers and seeds into original pieces that now reach markets outside the state. Rita shares that her childhood took place in Itacoatiara, in the Eva Paraná, experiencing a riverside life with strong contact with nature. She states she has been a poet since early on, and poetry guided her to become a jewelry and fashion designer. Her start was in crafts in São Paulo, but upon returning to Manaus, she established a jewelry store in Academia Cagim, where she conceived the first symbols of her riverside childhood, such as the canoe, paddle, sieve, fan, bow and arrow, sapé, and turtle.
While researching a durable fiber capable of replacing chains, Rita discovered arumã, a fiber used by indigenous peoples, and began working intensively with it. She highlights that what unites her first creations are the Amazonian fibers and seeds, keeping the connection to her childhood alive.
Another artist integrated into the Made in Amazon group is Katula Garcia, a textile art specialist, who uses manual techniques to produce original pieces inspired by Amazonian culture. For Katula, witnessing her work transcend the borders of Amazonas encapsulates the meaning of this collaboration. She describes the experience as extremely rewarding, feeling fulfillment and recognition when seeing her works reach people from various places through Made in Amazon. Katula emphasizes that each piece carries a fragment of her history, creativity, and artisanal dedication, and that the support of people from other states motivates her to further expand textile art.