Nova Bossa Brings Latin American Designs to Union Market

by Kathryn Sanders

Jewelry part of Nova Bossa’s Spring/Summer 2018 collection. Photo: Travis Vaughn

For a preview of warmer weather fashion look no further than the Nova Bossa pop-up store at Union Market to find exclusive handbags, clothing such as Renaissance lace dresses and statement jewelry from up-and-coming Latin American designers.

The shop stocks well-made, modern items like fringed handbags by Caterina Mina and jewelry by Paula Mendoza, whose designs were recently worn by both Rihanna and Beyonce.

Brazil native and world-traveler Carolina Furukrona founded the luxury lifestyle brand to promote the work of female Latin American designers and provide a much needed income stream to women in economically repressed villages.

“Our prices are higher because we pay these artists well,” Furukrona said, noting that many of the designers are single mothers and don’t have many additional career opportunities.

Nova Bossa stands for “new style” or “new beat” and is inspired by Furukrona’s 100+ international trips and her passion for travel, design and entertaining. After years spent working as an executive in both the public and private sectors, she wanted to switch gears and use her international experience to do social good. In her travels, she noticed that some of the indigenous skills, like crocheting, are dying off with older generations.

“We are trying to keep the artisan tradition in these countries alive, because a lot of the young people don’t want to do what their parents are doing,” Furukrona said.

While the brand’s Instagram account (follow them at @novabossaliving) gives a decadent peek at the “new beat” lifestyle, it’s worth running over to the shop to see the work in person — these designers are about to hit it big.

The pop-up runs 10am – 8pm through Sunday, February 25 at Union Market, 1309 5th Street NE, Washington DC 20002

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