Meet the Maker: Palorosa

We connected with Cecilia Pirani, the Italian designer behind Palorosa, to discuss her transition from architecture to accessories, the timeless craft of Guatemalan weaving, and building a sustainable brand rooted in collaboration. Based in Guatemala City, Cecilia creates handwoven totes from recycled plastic that honour traditional techniques while bringing her bold, colourful vision to life.

Where does the name Palorosa come from?

The name Palorosa derives from the Tabebuia Rosea, also called 'Palo de rosa', a tree native to Central America, characterised by a grey wooden rose. Its simplicity and sophistication embody our sensibility for materials and colours. I had already used this wood in some of my interior design projects: another moment of discovery, a true starting point, something with material substance. Palorosa is a colour and that colour becomes powder pink, the bark of the palo de rosa, the tint of wood and earth. A colour that is a non-colour, and that represents me.

Can you tell us about the artisans you collaborate with?

We collaborate with a network of artisans in Guatemala, in both cities and rural areas. Especially with a few families since the first few years. We built a very special relationship. Many of them manage their work from home, with tools and materials provided by us because weaving is often combined with other activities like agriculture or livestock. Over time we established a studio office in Guatemala City, which has become our base. There, we work together when we can, and develop our products, always exploring new colours, materials and techniques. It's a constant and reciprocal exchange. It has always been like this from the very beginning. The choice of creating a direct relationship with the artisans I work with allowed me to discover so many new things and to grow my imagination and my knowledge.

What traditional techniques are used to create each piece?

Each piece is entirely handmade, and every product is different from the next. The artisans weave each bag on a loom which varies in size depending on the model and size of the bag, allowing us to produce pieces with great care, quality and attention. Over the years, we have studied new weaves, experimented with materials and created exclusive colours. Starting from existing traditional techniques, we try to reinterpret them to develop unique collections of bags and accessories.

Your use of colour is so distinctive. How do you approach colour in your collections?

Each colour in the collections comes from different inspirations, and the brand itself is expressed through its tones. I often look to the nature, atmospheres and references of Latin America, and then translate them into essential, minimalist objects. Through delicate shades, the collections tell their stories in a subtle but distinctive way. Colour helps connect a shape with a material and with its possible combinations.

How do you source and select the materials you work with?

Quality and solidity are very important factors while choosing materials. Being sustainable is a goal to reach, it is our aim. It is also multifaceted working with discarded or recycled materials, and plastics in particular, is not easy. To obtain our best quality and ensure the product is resilient we are currently relying on a supplier mixing both virgin and recycled plastics. Our priority is to offer clients an object with longevity. Our process is as meticulous as it is artisanal. The production team examines every single piece, every bag and object, with an extraordinary level of care. The making remains fully handmade, which means that small imperfections can exist, but over the years we've refined the quality down to the smallest detail.

How do you balance creating pieces that are both beautiful and functional?

We didn't invent these bags. We simply reinterpreted something that already existed. In rural areas, these wide, woven shoppers are very common because they're resistant and have countless uses. I kept that practicality but developed a signature palette: monochrome tones carefully selected for the collections, rather than the vivid colours traditionally used in Guatemala. The result is the Palorosa Basket, an everyday piece that is light, chic and easy to match. Depending on the colour and model, you can take it to the farmers market or to work and carry anything you need.

Which pieces have resonated most with your customers?

The Mercado bags have been so popular! For this style we went back to the origin during a trip in Guatemala in February 2024. We return to the authenticity of the basket, of the product. In Latin America, the handwoven plastic bags have long been a mainstay for rural women, carrying almost everything they need without fear of breakage. The bold, fresh colours in the markets of Guatemala have been adapted for a more metropolitan feminine; blue lilac, earthy tobacco, chocolate and palm green are introduced in the geometric patterns of Mercado.

What inspires you most when designing?

Of course, traveling, researching materials and weaving techniques, and observing trends all play a role. But my deepest inspiration comes from everything that exists beyond the act of designing or making a bag. My process is driven by intuition and observation. I love exploring markets, discovering new places, and watching women carry baskets in their everyday lives. And above all, my primary source of inspiration is photography, both contemporary and modern, that feels realistic, intimate, and rooted in the everyday. Every time I visit the artisans we work with in the highlands of Guatemala, far from the pressures of sales and city life, I rediscover inspiration and a sense of purpose. Watching their craft unfold brings me back to the essence of why I do what I do.

What has surprised you most since starting Palorosa?

What has surprised me most is how far Palorosa has travelled, reaching distant places around the world and the fact that we're still here after ten years. It hasn't been easy; it's always challenging, but we keep going. And above all, what surprises me the most is our international community. The people who wear Palorosa are many, spread across the world yet somehow close. I hope this community keeps growing, there's something about a Palorosa bag that people connect with and see themselves in, each in their own way.

What's next for Palorosa?

One of the next steps for the brand is to bring our community closer to our artisanal process and to the way we approach design. I'm dreaming of hosting a weaving workshop in Milan with some of the team from Guatemala! Dream!