Entrepreneur from Amazon produces bags with Amazon graphics and indigenous traits

Manaus (AM) – Entrepreneurship through crafts is synonymous with cultural, personal and professional appreciation. And that’s what artisan Alice Lagoa, 47, makes a point of telling wherever she goes. Eight years ago, entrepreneurship invaded the life of Amazonians to teach them how to make art and conquer the world by valuing the customs of their ancestors. She produces customized bags and toiletries with Amazon graphics and indigenous designs: “It’s a new way of life, with it I can make dreams come true.”

Until 2015, Alice worked as a cosmetics reseller and, in addition to not feeling fulfilled, she suffered from a lack of sales and late payments. That year, even without many resources, she took a creative sewing course and started giving gifts to family and friends, who motivated her to invest in this talent.

“I felt capable, admired and excited. This encouraged me to buy a machine, produce bags and toiletries with the means to pay the bills and have my own capital”,

remember.

Quality has always been a strong point of Alice Lagoa Bolsas, which values ​​finishing and material that does not tear easily, does not stain or shrink after washing. The products are synthetic and made from 100% cotton fabrics. Slowly, the clientele increased and so did the orders.

“I even made 200 bags for the church and 50 for the beach for a managers event”, he comments. It was necessary to dedicate eight hours a day, from Monday to Monday, for 15 days, to produce these orders. “I learned how to calculate materials, negotiate payment methods and organize the production line”, she comments, proudly. Another success was the custom-made notebook case for a doctor in the region.

“As the client had not defined the model, I observed her needs and added internal and external compartments. The doctor was so pleased that she ordered three units to give to other doctors as gifts,” says Alice.

Inside the plots

However, Alice’s trajectory was not always on the rise. The business stopped for three long years, when she had to go from Manaus to São Paulo to treat serious consequences of endometriosis. During this time, she received support from her husband, mother and sister.

In 2020, when her health finally recovered, Alice sought guidance from Sebrae Amazonas to innovate in resuming her business and decided to train in an indigenous braiding course to add value to her bags.

“I greatly admire and respect the work of indigenous people, it is a teaching that passes from generation to generation. Learning how to braid was a gift. It is one of the models that sells the most”, explains the artisan, who improved the finishing of the bags when she met, during an exhibition, the Indian Tikuna Micilene Pociano, who taught her the macramé braiding technique, using tucum thread. Since then, the two have maintained a strong friendship and Alice began to produce bag handles using this technique.

The interest in indigenous braids came from Alice’s own family history, who is a descendant of a tribe that was once decimated. “The hand-braided pieces, made with 100% cotton bias, are reminiscent of designs made on basketry and rugs. They remind us of the Amazon. I want to take the graphics of indigenous peoples to the whole of Brazil”, reveals Alice. The woman from Amazonas, who at the beginning of her business earned R$1,500 per month, now earns R$6,000 as an individual microentrepreneur (MEI).

Teach how to fish

The entrepreneur dreams of having enough capital to support a space for production and another to teach the community how to make bags.

“I believe in the power of sewing. Teaching a source of income is teaching how to fish for daily food”, reinforces Alice when remembering her story of overcoming. “I didn’t know anything and I was scared to death of using a sewing machine, but I studied, learned and managed to earn my income.”

Alice is now preparing to return to major fairs, such as Manaus Expo Beleza, while designing the new collection and organizing the finances. At the same time, she is part of the group of artisans at Sebrae and immerses herself in events and business programs that teach, among other topics, trends in digital marketing, how to price and ship products and packaging.

*With information from consultancy

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