Accessories Made of Cork - Pantxika

The Jentilak are said to be the oldest ancestors of the Basque people, and it is after these people that founder of Jentil, Pantxika Ospital, named her collection of eco-friendly, vegan bags and accessories. Pantxika started the brand in London in the Spring of 2014 after a visit to Portugal where she encountered the cork industry present there. When she returned to London, the French-educated designer decided to start her own brand inspired by her findings in Portugal and her French heritage.

All of the accessories are made of cork, because nature-lover Pantxika wanted to make her accessories collection not only tailored to the modern lifestyle, but also eco-friendly. Cork is “sustainable, recyclable, biodegradable…soft, light, flexible, resilient, and waterproof….It is versatile, hardwearing and natural as natural can be! Capable of retaining great strength and durability, even when worked to the thinness of fabric, cork is the ultimate ‘green’ material for the production of bags and accessories commonly made from leather, indeed it is widely known as ‘vegan leather’ or ‘cork skin’.” “Made from the bark of the cork oak tree, which grows in the Mediterranean region, cork is harvested every nine years, without harming the tree. The trees can live up to 250 years, contributing to wildlife diversity, helping in the fight against forest fires, providing a sustainable income for the local people.” Now on her second collection (which has a campaign on Kickstarter), Pantxika is working towards spreading the work about cork and upping the quality and detail of her products, so they are built to last. All the products are made in Portugal from cork that comes from sustainably managed forests. I sat down over email to have a short chat with Pantxika about the brand and where it’s going. HC: Where do you get your inspiration for the design for your products and the latest line? PO: I really like Scandinavian Design, I studied textile design in Sweden and it is still what inspires me, a mix of minimalist shapes, mid century patterns, bright colors and authentic materials. I love this sophisticated simplicity, and the warm touch of wood. HC: What are your plans for the future? PO: In the future, I would love to develop my company and to collaborate with other designers with the same mindset. Here in London, I have a project of a collective with others designers working with cork material. With my passion of vegetal, I would like to explore new crafts such as basketry. I am really impressed by this technique it is a mix of weaving and 3 dimensional construction with raw material. It is like a low-tech 3D printer. Her vision for the future sounds great to us! Support Jentil’s Kickstarter and find our more about the brand at jentil.co.uk.

Source: honestlycurated.com

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