Interview with Casa Atlantica: basketry and branding

We spoke with designers Belén and Lester about how they have introduced basketry techniques into their projects and about branding..

Belén and Lester, the visionary founders of Casa Atlántica, have made a remarkable impact on the contemporary design scene, harmonizing the essence of ancestral techniques with the freshness of today's aesthetics. This creative duo has managed to fuse traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, creating authentic and unique products that are making their mark on the global design scene.

From collaborating with renowned brands such as Loewe, peSeta and Nike, to being selected to be sold at the prestigious MoMa Design Store, their growth and expansion knows no bounds. In this interview, we will talk about their journey into the world of craftsmanship, the unparalleled value it brings to their creations and how their cultural roots influence every piece they design. In addition, they will share valuable tips on branding and how to make a name for themselves in the art world.

Q. How did you enter the world of craftsmanship?
A. Lester: We always liked to visit craft fairs and markets. We met a lot of artisans and started to get into the world of craftsmanship that way.

Q. What led you to basketry techniques?
A. Belén: We have always liked basketry. My father is a master basket maker, but for us it is also a great resource when designing and creating products. We use and rescue traditional basketry techniques and apply them to our projects.

Q. What is the value of craftsmanship?
A. Lester: The value that craftsmanship brings is that the products are unique and there is always a person behind them.

Q. How do your roots influence your creations?
A. Belén: In our work our roots are present, the folklore of Galicia, Portugal, our origins.

Q. How did you come to create your own brand?
A. Lester: We were more linked to the world of design, but we always liked to make things with our hands. From 2014 we founded Casa Atlantica and gave free rein to our manual creativity.

Q. What is your creative routine?
A. Belén: We don't have a very defined creative routine, we simply work a lot with prototypes, we test, we look for the way or the way to develop a product until we find what we like the most.

Q. A piece of advice for those who want to create their own brand?
A. Lester: My advice would be to try to differentiate yourself and be as authentic as possible.

Q. What would you recommend to make yourself known?
A. Belén: To make yourself known it is very useful to use platforms such as social networks, but also to participate in fairs, collaborate with other artists or artisans. All this helps a lot to spread your work and be constant as well.

After this deep dive into the minds of Casa Atlantica's creators, it is clear that respect for artisanal techniques and passion for creativity are part of the core of their brand. Following in their footsteps, there is no doubt that being authentic and true to our roots can take us to unimaginable heights. Would you like to learn along with them? Don't miss their online course Introduction to braiding with colored wires, where you will discover contemporary basketry techniques and learn how to weave with PVC wires to achieve unique patterns to decorate your home.