It is a plant fiber belonging to the family "eriocaulaceae" (syngonanthus nitens). This herbaceous plant grows mainly in Brazil, in the Jalapão region located in the state of Tocantins.
The main characteristic of the golden capim lies in its luster. The refinement and elegance of this fiber make it aesthetically equal to the precious metal.
This plant grows wild and initially has a green color. It takes a whole year to mature and take on the typical gold luster, which does not change over time, even in contact with water.
Only from September, under Brazilian government constraints, can the capim stems be harvested. These, then, must dry for about 48 hours once harvested. After that, it is possible to soak them in water to begin processing them; this step makes the fiber more flexible, thus preventing it from breaking during processing.
In Brazil, artisans expertly pass down from generation to generation the manual skills and secrets to work this enchanting fiber.
The processing is done mainly by the Indios people in order to support and foster a sustainable social economy. without phenomena of worker exploitation or irrational use of resources.
Even in Europe for some years now, gold capim has been imported and some young entrepreneurs have grasped the excellent potential related to the production and trade of this natural gold.
From a meeting with Jorge and Karine I discovered Açaï : their natural creations are the result of the meeting between two people and their travels between two countries: Brazil and France.
The two working methods used are those of the art of basketry, very similar to Sardinian basketry, and wire (a technique in which thin bundles of stems wrap a metal core that allows them to twist without breaking).
Wonderful jewelry and shining bags with golden highlights thus come to life, but other accessories can also be made that can be used in the world of footwear.
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