Smart digital for Businesses
I’m Paola Zancanaro from NamuStore and I’m a #WORLDCHANGERS
The WeGiveIt #WORLDCHANGERS series asks heroes, experts and leaders to share their ambitions, routines and more.
This month on the #WORLDCHANGERS series, WeGiveIt speaks to Paola Zancanaro, founder of NAMU, a wonderful sustainable brand of clothing and accessories for women.
Location: Bali, Indonesia and online
Current job: founder and creative director of NAMU
One word that best describes how you work: sustainable
First of all, tell us a little about your background and how you got to where you are today.
First, I have been working in fashion for the past 20 years organizing events and fashion shows across the globe. I started my career in London working for Vivienne Westwood , where I immersed myself in the world of fashion from marketing to sales. VW is one of the most creative designer in this industry and I truly treasure my experience there. After 3 years at Giorgio Armani working on events I moved back to Italy, my own country and started my career with Prada, which lasted almost 15 years.
During one of my many trips to Asia I decided to relocate to Bali in 2007.
Bali is a creative hub, where you can explore and make your dreams come true working along skilled and passionate artisans
How can you define your business ethical?
My company NAMU was founded in 2009 and since then it showcases our shagreen accessories collection and our Resortwear Collection along with other brands all made in Indonesia.
At NAMU we like to support local artisans and to keep alive traditional artisanal techniques.
Because we are sustainable, we handpick all the brands available at NAMU STORE, which shares the same values that we have.
We do not follow trends but like to offer transeasonal pieces that last forever and can be pass from generation to the next one.
Our philosophy is handmade is luxury, – each handmade piece differs from each other making each item unique and one-of-a-kind.
What motivates you?
Keeping alive traditional artisanal techniques and keep learning from local artisans motivates us every day.
We like to support small businesses and to work with them; they are not our suppliers, they are part of the NAMU family
Tell us about a moment when you knew that it was all worth the hard work
Sitting in my office and hearing our staff talking to clients about the brand and our philosophy!
They are ever so proud of NAMU and they never stop learning about new techniques we work with.
They support the brand as if it is theirs and they are the best Ambassadors of NAMU!
How did your company get involved with a cause or charity partner?
Since I arrived in Indonesia I have been wanting to work closely with an NGO that supports children and education; children are the future and they all deserve to receive an education.
I was thrilled to meet Kartika Soekarno through a dear friend and support her Foundation. The KS Foundation not only supports kids and their education but also mothers with pre-natal care through birth, infancy and early years up to secondary school.
We designed a pouch for the KS Foundation and all sales are donated to the Foundation and its activities.
How do you recharge? What do you do when you want to forget about work?
Yoga and traveling!
Work is always at the back of my mind but I try to combine my passion for traveling with work finding new suppliers and artisans to work with in countries that I love the most.
What book are you currently reading?
What would you have done differently if you knew then what you know now?
Definitely using less plastic, I am trying to embrace a life plastic-free.
Fill in the blank: I’d love to see Kartika of KS Foundationn answer these same questions.
You can buy pieces from NAMU collections in Bali, NAMU STORE or on line NAMU.
We love to interview brands with purpose and listen about their work and their way of giving back. We can help you to optimize your Cause Marketing and your Brand Strategy to reach your profitable and ethical goals.
Have someone you want to see featured or questions you think we should ask? Email Sara