Hammock Artisans of Paraiba

Armando Dantas is an entrepreneur who is conscious of the socio-environmental responsibility he shares with other citizens. He heads up a group of talented artisans in the Northeastern Brazilian state of Paraiba. They weave nets and craft décor accents in an ethical, responsible and maintainable manner with the use of organic cotton and recycled cotton threads.

"A feather is born with color, and needs no additives or coloring. Because it already possesses color, it needs no dyes," he says. "A fiber has been developed here through agro-ecological cultivation methods in which the use of insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and other industrialized chemicals that pollute the soil and water is not permitted. In this way, the farmer doesn't handle harmful products that are poisonous to health and the environment."

Brazil's colored cotton of Paraiba is grown on family farms and is planted mainly in small villages and communities. The cotton is most often purchased directly from the farmer, without commercial middlemen, which guarantees a fair price for both the farmer and the buyer.

The idea of respect for nature has gained enormous importance in the sale and use of textiles. Armando Dantas is proud of having proposed sustainable decoration with innovative designs. "Our creations use organic cotton woven and finished with craft techniques as macramé and crochet, crafted by an efficient and talented group of local artisans.

"The fibers are transformed into hammocks and décor objects. The crafting process is ecological and socially sustainable. We guarantee employment as well as direct and indirect income for countless families, among them, farmers, weavers, lace makers and other artisans in rural settlements, associations and communities.

"We create regional products, of local production, but the creative way we develop them is our strongest feature. Our hammocks — among other utilitarian and ornamental designs — are crafted with threads from scraps of cotton fabrics used in clothing manufacture, strengthened with polyester threads derived from recycling PET plastic bottles. To adapt the use of these materials, we chose a concept of sustainability and repurposing resources."

Another important material is the organic cotton in its natural colors. "This is an inspired product because the production in the field is not irrigated. From the planting to the weaving, we save 87.5 percent of the water normally used. In the textile industry, it is the dyeing and the use of the water that cause the greatest environmental impact. We work to avoid that."