The spirit of the store
The idea for this online shop came about after a trip to Brazil to visit my family. I'm Brazilian, from Pará, in the north of the country, in the Amazon basin. My encounters with indigenous people and the local population inspired me to share my handcrafted jewelry with you.
The name AmazoniKaa originates from the compression of the words Amazonia and Kaa, meaning leaf in the indigenous Tupi language, spoken by many Native American ethnic groups.
Indeed, the Brazilian territory is dotted with numerous ethnic groups, each with their own language, culture, rites, etc.
Each ethnic group uses different motifs. The ornaments are distinctive enough to represent them and differentiate them from one another.
Although attached to their lifestyles and roots, far removed from our consumer societies, some ethnic groups use the sale of handcrafted products to become better known to the general public and the political sphere, in order to better defend their interests and protect their territories.
The Brazilian Constitution recognizes the rights of Indigenous people to the lands they traditionally occupy, but numerous conflicts regularly pit them against either clandestine gold miners, the garimpeiros, or large landowners who seek to expand their territories for their cattle or crops.
Some ethnic groups have to use video surveillance systems to protect themselves and report problems to the relevant authorities.
Indigenous communities are on the front lines against deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. This artisanal trade allows them a degree of financial independence to continue their fight to preserve their cultural heritage and their lands.
AmazoniKaa presents jewelry created by various indigenous groups from the Amazon basin, particularly those originating from Brazil. Handmade, they are crafted in their villages, primarily using dried seeds, glass beads, ceramics or wood, mounted on stainless steel settings, nylon or cotton threads.
I work directly with indigenous associations in the Amazon as well as other local artisans in Brazil.
The AmazoniKaa brand participates at its level in the work of preserving indigenous culture, in the recognition of their way of life in respect of their territories, in a transparent manner with our customers and our partners who share the same values with us.
