Carlos Sobral

Carlos Sobral

Carlos Sobral began his career as a designer in Rio de Janeiro during the Hippie movement of the 1960s. At the time, Sobral was creating leather handbags as well as sandals crafted from recycled tires and jewelry made with metal corroded in acid. From the very beginning, Sobral discovered his affinity for working with unusual recycled materials, an environmentally-responsible practice he continues to this day. For years, Sobral traveled between craft fairs and cultural events, and even knocked on restaurant doors, to find buyers for his hand-crafted goods. But distribution was difficult, as there were many other artists creating similar products and selling in the same markets. However, in 1976, Sobral stumbled across a new material – resin – that would prove to be a turning point in his career. At a craft fair in Cabo Frio, Sobral first saw jewelry made by Argentinean artisans from polyester resin. Immediately seeing the possibilities associated with this unique material, Sobral asked the artists for information about the raw material, but not surprisingly, they demurred.

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