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Luciana Santabaia

"From childhood, I've been interested in art and I always received a lot of incentive in our family. Art interested me in general, but I didn't know how to apply that interest.

"In 2003, I graduated from the university with a degree in style and fashion. I moved to Fortaleza, in northeastern Brazil, where I lived until the beginning of 2006. There, I had contact with the incredible local handicrafts, like lacework, weaving and natural fibers. And so I decided to take advantage of these materials in a practical way, using them in fashion, in the form of appliqué on clothes and bags.

"My first creations were an attempt to use these materials as the basis for my work. Lace patterns like renaissance, labyrinth, bobbin lace and richelieu were the inspirations for my first handbags and they continue inspiring me today.

"I take a lot of care with the choice of materials and I always stay informed about materials that don't harm nature. One of the materials that I use is a fabric obtained from coconut fiber, a way of utilizing the tree's fruit.

"Because I use many kinds of handmade lace, I also take care to buy them directly from the lace makers, which I feel is fair. "I take a lot of pleasure from my work and I want to show it to the world. This is my form of art. I believe artistic expression consists of this – using different types of art in different ways. But all are equally important.

"Collaborating with Novica is an excellent opportunity. I see it as a way of exhibiting my work in new places I didn't reach before. I'm looking forward to a very successful partnership."