Carlos Sobral
Encyclopedia
Carlos Sobral began his career as a designer in Rio de Janeiro
during the Hippie
movement of the 1960s
. At the time, Sobral was creating leather handbags as well as sandals crafted from recycled tires and jewelry made with metal corroded in acid. From the very beginning, Sobral discovered his affinity for working with unusual recycled materials, an environmentally-responsible practice he continues to this day.
For years, Sobral traveled between craft fairs and cultural events, and even knocked on restaurant doors, to find buyers for his hand-crafted goods. But distribution was difficult, as there were many other artists creating similar products and selling in the same markets. However, in 1976, Sobral stumbled across a new material – resin
– that would prove to be a turning point in his career.
At a craft fair in Cabo Frio
, Sobral first saw jewelry made by Argentinean artisans from polyester resin
. Immediately seeing the possibilities associated with this unique material, Sobral asked the artists for information about the raw material, but not surprisingly, they demurred. However, Sobral was entranced and when he finally discovered a source of resin through his own detective work, he was determined to work with this new material, and he built a workshop on a small farm located in Jardim Alvorada, Nova Iguaçu
, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro
. Here, he launched his new company, Genesis, which over time would evolve into the now world-famous company, Sobral. He lives and works here still, with his wife Elisa, and their many adopted stray dogs.
The many colors and shapes that could be created from this unique, natural material were an instant inspiration for the young designer. From that point on, Sobral learned everything he could about resin, and he focused all of his energies on designing jewelry. Despite its small size, Genesis immediately garnered attention in fashion world.
The advent of the 1980s
left the Hippie
movement behind, the fashion world became more sophisticated, and Genesis evolved into Memphis, a better-equipped workshop that shared space with the local samba
school. In 1982, inexperienced and without a word of French in his vocabulary, Sobral traveled to Paris
prepared to take the fashion world by storm. Arriving in the midst of Bastille Day
celebrations in Paris, Sobral opened his portable display case and faced the difficult challenge selling anything during the summer months when Parisians head to the country for holidays. Learning from this experience, the following year Sobral chose the right moment to return to Paris
, and his designs quickly became as popular in Europe they were in Brazil
, and by 1988, Sobral was running a million dollar company. Sobral continued to grow in size and popularity through the 1980s
and 1990s
, earning recognition and respect throughout the jewelry and fashion industries worldwide.
In 1991, Sobral opened a store in the sophisticated Rio neighborhood of Ipanema
, the first of many Sobral boutiques, and his continued success in Paris
is emphasized by the many awards he has won. In recognition of his fierce sense of design and attention to quality, Sobral has received the prestigious Etoile de Mode five times at the famed BIJORHCA designer jewelry show in Paris. Singled out among 600 exhibitors from around the world, Sobral was honored by the Designer Jury in September 2004, by the College Jury of the Paris Fashion School in January and September of 2005, by the press Jury in January 2006, and by the Shop Jury in September 2006. In 2006, he also won the ultimate honor, the Best in Show award for his famed “Pop Art” collection. Taken by Sobral’s success, in 2007, legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld
commissioned Sobral to create accessories for the Maison Karl Lagerfeld
Summer 2008 collection, and Sobral had the satisfaction of seeing pieces bearing his name and that of the iconic Lagerfeld shown on the Parisian runway.
Today, Sobral has stores in New York
, Paris
, Rio de Janeiro
, Sao Paulo
, Heidelberg
, Honfleur
, Buzios and Paraty
– a total of 17 Sobral boutiques throughout the America’s and Europe. Sobral also has a vast network of distributors, and Sobral designs are sold in hundreds of authorized retail shops on four continents.
In addition to being a designer, Sobral is also a humanitarian. His 160 employees’ receive meals, medical care and a retirement plan, rare employee benefits in Brazil. Sobral also partners with the Museum of the Republic to train poor children to in the art of making costume jewelry. Sobral’s entire production process is also eco-friendly, all the way through to his 100% oxy-biodegradable packaging.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
during the Hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
movement of the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. At the time, Sobral was creating leather handbags as well as sandals crafted from recycled tires and jewelry made with metal corroded in acid. From the very beginning, Sobral discovered his affinity for working with unusual recycled materials, an environmentally-responsible practice he continues to this day.
For years, Sobral traveled between craft fairs and cultural events, and even knocked on restaurant doors, to find buyers for his hand-crafted goods. But distribution was difficult, as there were many other artists creating similar products and selling in the same markets. However, in 1976, Sobral stumbled across a new material – resin
Resin
Resin in the most specific use of the term is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly coniferous trees. Resins are valued for their chemical properties and associated uses, such as the production of varnishes, adhesives, and food glazing agents; as an important source of raw materials...
– that would prove to be a turning point in his career.
At a craft fair in Cabo Frio
Cabo Frio
Cabo Frio is a Brazilian municipality in Rio de Janeiro state, founded by the Portuguese on November 13, 1615.The city's economy is mainly based on tourism, as most of the cities situated in the called Região dos Lagos . The city is usually visited by people from Minas Gerais, Brasília and Rio de...
, Sobral first saw jewelry made by Argentinean artisans from polyester resin
Polyester resin
Polyester resins are unsaturated resins formed by the reaction of dibasic organic acids and polyhydric alcohols. Polyester resins are used in sheet moulding compound, bulk moulding compound and the toner of laser printers...
. Immediately seeing the possibilities associated with this unique material, Sobral asked the artists for information about the raw material, but not surprisingly, they demurred. However, Sobral was entranced and when he finally discovered a source of resin through his own detective work, he was determined to work with this new material, and he built a workshop on a small farm located in Jardim Alvorada, Nova Iguaçu
Nova Iguaçu
Nova Iguaçu is a city in southeast Brazil in the Baixada Fluminense region of Rio de Janeiro state. It was the state's second largest city until Mesquita was split off, and now is the fourth largest after São Gonçalo and Duque de Caxias. It lies northwest of the city of Rio de Janeiro, on the...
, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. Here, he launched his new company, Genesis, which over time would evolve into the now world-famous company, Sobral. He lives and works here still, with his wife Elisa, and their many adopted stray dogs.
The many colors and shapes that could be created from this unique, natural material were an instant inspiration for the young designer. From that point on, Sobral learned everything he could about resin, and he focused all of his energies on designing jewelry. Despite its small size, Genesis immediately garnered attention in fashion world.
The advent of the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
left the Hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
movement behind, the fashion world became more sophisticated, and Genesis evolved into Memphis, a better-equipped workshop that shared space with the local samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
school. In 1982, inexperienced and without a word of French in his vocabulary, Sobral traveled to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
prepared to take the fashion world by storm. Arriving in the midst of Bastille Day
Bastille Day
Bastille Day is the name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July of each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale and commonly le quatorze juillet...
celebrations in Paris, Sobral opened his portable display case and faced the difficult challenge selling anything during the summer months when Parisians head to the country for holidays. Learning from this experience, the following year Sobral chose the right moment to return to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and his designs quickly became as popular in Europe they were in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and by 1988, Sobral was running a million dollar company. Sobral continued to grow in size and popularity through the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
and 1990s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
, earning recognition and respect throughout the jewelry and fashion industries worldwide.
In 1991, Sobral opened a store in the sophisticated Rio neighborhood of Ipanema
Ipanema
For other uses, see Ipanema . For the British rock band, see Ipanema .Ipanema is a neighborhood located in the southern region of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between Leblon and Arpoador...
, the first of many Sobral boutiques, and his continued success in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
is emphasized by the many awards he has won. In recognition of his fierce sense of design and attention to quality, Sobral has received the prestigious Etoile de Mode five times at the famed BIJORHCA designer jewelry show in Paris. Singled out among 600 exhibitors from around the world, Sobral was honored by the Designer Jury in September 2004, by the College Jury of the Paris Fashion School in January and September of 2005, by the press Jury in January 2006, and by the Shop Jury in September 2006. In 2006, he also won the ultimate honor, the Best in Show award for his famed “Pop Art” collection. Taken by Sobral’s success, in 2007, legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld is a German fashion designer, artist and photographer based in Paris. He has collaborated on a variety of fashion and art related projects, most notably as head designer and creative director for the fashion house Chanel...
commissioned Sobral to create accessories for the Maison Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld is a German fashion designer, artist and photographer based in Paris. He has collaborated on a variety of fashion and art related projects, most notably as head designer and creative director for the fashion house Chanel...
Summer 2008 collection, and Sobral had the satisfaction of seeing pieces bearing his name and that of the iconic Lagerfeld shown on the Parisian runway.
Today, Sobral has stores in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Sao Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, Honfleur
Honfleur
Honfleur is a commune in the Calvados department in northwestern France. It is located on the southern bank of the estuary of the Seine across from le Havre and very close to the exit of the Pont de Normandie...
, Buzios and Paraty
Paraty
Paraty [pronounced Par-a-CHEE] is a preserved Portuguese colonial and Brazilian Imperial town with a population of about 36,000. It is located on the Costa Verde , a lush, green corridor that runs along the coastline of the state of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil...
– a total of 17 Sobral boutiques throughout the America’s and Europe. Sobral also has a vast network of distributors, and Sobral designs are sold in hundreds of authorized retail shops on four continents.
In addition to being a designer, Sobral is also a humanitarian. His 160 employees’ receive meals, medical care and a retirement plan, rare employee benefits in Brazil. Sobral also partners with the Museum of the Republic to train poor children to in the art of making costume jewelry. Sobral’s entire production process is also eco-friendly, all the way through to his 100% oxy-biodegradable packaging.