Meet Silvana Bonfante G., Founder of La Ciénaga
“Be grateful for all that you have and enjoy the journey one day at a time.”
Silvana Bonfante G. is an anthropologist and cultural advisor from Colombia, now living in Madrid. She is currently launching La Ciénaga, her first personal project brand. Through it, she curates, promotes and sells upcycled handwoven material culture as premium luxury objects from the Colombian highlands in Europe.
The problem she refused to ignore
It was around 2011, during a visit to the countryside of Bogotá, when Silvana saw a peasant woman carrying a basket made of recycled PVC fibres. These were the same fibres used to pack and secure fruits and vegetables arriving daily at the local market. She remembers thinking that this seemingly worthless object deserved to be shown to the world, not only for its usefulness or beauty, but for the story behind it.
Years later, almost unexpectedly, the opportunity arose to build a business around these market baskets and present them in Europe as the luxury products she believes they are.
“My fears are still there and there’s still a long way to go but somehow I have a deep faith that everything will work out.”
The moment that shifted her focus
The decisive moment came during the pandemic. After moving back to Spain, she was unable to find work as an anthropologist and cultural advisor. That was when she decided it was the right time to start promoting the material culture of her country in Europe herself.
Why La Ciénaga is different
What may appear to be only a fashion brand houses a project that supports small artisan communities in Colombia. Through her initiative, artisans continue to practise their craft, preventing its disappearance and contributing to improving their quality of life.
The baskets are made from PVC fibre that has reached the end of its life cycle. Through upcycling, these fibres are transformed by artisans, without industrial processes, into utilitarian and aesthetic objects. This gives the material a new purpose and prevents waste.
How she leads
Those who know Silvana describe her as highly self-disciplined and deeply committed to every challenge that comes her way. She is also extremely passionate and outgoing. She believes this shapes her ability to communicate and involve others in her venture.
What she’s building right now
Right now, she is launching La Ciénaga, her first personal project brand. The brand aims to curate, promote and sell upcycled handwoven material culture as premium luxury objects from the Colombian highlands in Europe. She is currently in the process of launching her first collection.
Founderland and finding her people
For Silvana, being part of Founderland means sharing her experience with other women who are starting a business. At the same time, she seeks support to give visibility to her project and learn from others how to carry it out in the best possible way.
Her biggest challenge—and how she moved through it
Launching La Ciénaga has not been easy. She went through a clinical depression that kept her away from the cultural circuit she once moved in, and faced an economic situation that prevented her from starting earlier. She also feared losing credibility, lacking knowledge of the digital market and not knowing how to communicate the true value of the product.
Despite this, she took the chance. She is now in the process of launching her first collection, fully committed and often working alone. Burnout is real, yet she feels optimistic and holds a deep faith that everything will work out.
Advice to her past self
“Be patient and have fun,” she says. At the beginning of a personal project, it is easy to take everything too personally and strive for perfection, especially when doing almost everything alone.
Who inspires her
Her biggest inspiration is her mother, who completed her medical career as a single mother while raising her. From her, Silvana learned ethics, values and an open and compassionate view of the world.
How she stays grounded
She stays motivated through the certainty that she can pull it off despite setbacks. She is driven by the conviction that promoting her country’s culture abroad can contribute, even in a small way, to improving the quality of life of families who depend on its success. She also credits her boundless curiosity for aesthetics and details in the world around her.
A mantra she lives by
“Be grateful for all that you have and enjoy the journey one day at a time.”
Follow Silvana’s Journey
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