The Escama Studio Team
Andy Krumholz
My name is Andy Krumholz. I'm from Ohio and since an early age I've been fascinated by foreign cultures. Throughout school I did miserably in languages but for some reason I had a knack for Mandarin and I ended up spending 14 years in Taiwan. I've always liked Bossa Nova music and in 2002 I decided to take a long awaited trip to Brazil. It was there that I saw the traditional handicraft of crochet-with-tabs and from the moment I saw it I knew that I wanted to somehow adapt this traditional craft for the average consumer. With very little experience in business and no clue about handbags I ran around in circles for about sixteen months but with the help of Socorro, Eric, Ryan and the women in the cooperatives, we now have the beginnings of something really great. I'm amazed to see how much we've accomplished so far and I can't wait to see what happens next.
Socorro Leal Schwiderski
My name is Socorro Leal Schwiderski. I was born in Brasília, Brazil, where I spent the first 20 years of my life. In 1983 I received an athletic scholarship and attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. After I graduated in 1987, I went to San Francisco, CA, where I spent the last 16 years. It was a wonderful experience that I will never forget. I returned to Brazil in 2004. I believe that everyone is capable of changing or touching someone's life. I feel that everyone deserves a chance, respect and the opportunity to be included in a society. The women of Cia do Lacre and As Panteras do Lacre might think that they have gotten something from us at ESCAMA, but I think the contrary. I have witnessed, first hand, what makes someone strong, hopeful and resilient. All of that is in their faces, in their everyday lives. I am the one that have gotten something from them!
Eric Pedersen
I'm Eric Pedersen. I am a graphic artist and web developer by trade. I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota where I played in various bands and studied Art. I moved to San Francisco in 1999 where I met Andy while working with an Internet startup - Meet World Trade. While with Meet World Trade I became interested in international commerce and the politics of international trade and development. So when Andy came back from Brazil with a bag made from the recycled tabs I knew I had to jump aboard and see where this could go. To hear the stories and see the enthusiasm of both the women who make them from our customers has been incredibly rewarding. Thank you all.
