CASA DO RIO NGO
& CRIS BARROS
Casa do Rio: founded and based in Careiro Castanho, state of Amazonas
Cris Barros: founded and based in São Paulo, state of São Paulo
First bag
Summer 2018
Ambé vine, reclaimed wood
This bag marks the first collaboration between the designer Cris Barros and Casa do Rio in 2017, involving nine women artisans from the riverside communities along the Tupana river in the Amazon. Handwoven from cipó ambé, a vine traditionally used by Indigenous artisans across the region, the piece features a wooden handle crafted from reclaimed louro wood. Cipó ambé is valued for its strength and flexibility.
Beyond its use in weaving, it serves as a binding for arrows and can be smoked as a natural cigarette, hence its nickname ‘indigenous cigarette’.
Founded in 2014, Casa do Rio supports regenerative development in the Brazilian Amazon by fostering community-led entrepreneurship, knowledge exchange, and the
sustainable use of natural resources.
Founded in 2002, Cris Barros is a Brazilian womenswear brand committed to more responsible practices and certified as a B Corporation. In partnership with the NGO Casa do Rio, they develop exclusive co-created designs that value the knowledge, autonomy, and craftsmanship of Amazonian women.
Courtesy of the brand
