In 1997, I graduated high school without a clear direction. I enrolled in a university chosen by my mother, without truly understanding the profession it represented. What followed were seventeen years of searching — seventeen years of trying different occupations, from retail to public administration, from secretarial work to human resources. Seventeen years of seeking a place where I belonged, y
et never finding it. And still, throughout that time, a flame burned quietly within me — a calling to create. I began to see beauty where others saw nothing: twisted branches discarded by nature, which I would transform into candlesticks or decorative objects. It was an exercise of imagination, a way of giving meaning and grace where none seemed to exist. Dust and sawdust eventually forced me to abandon this path, but the desire to create never left me. The decisive moment came when I realized I wanted to craft objects not only to adorn, but to accompany people in their daily lives. That was the birth of the idea of the handbag. I had no training, no lineage, no inherited tradition. I always belived that nothing in live is mere coincidence. God placed people, events and circumstances in my path, aligning them in ways that led me, step by step, toward this craft. And so I began with the simplest of tools: a piece of tile as my work surface, a kitchen knife to cut, a small screwdriver to pierce the leather, and a construction hammer to fix the stitches. From this rudimentary arsenal, my very first creations were born: two coasters, and soon after, my first clutch. Looking back now, I understand that it was precisely this simplicity that rooted my journey in authenticity. Yet I was not satisfied. I longed for more. Three years later, in 2017, after purchasing two handbags from the market and feeling deeply disappointed by their quality, I made a vow: never again would I buy a bag — I would craft my own. With a handful of tutorials, scarce materials gathered with difficulty, and relentless perseverance, I created my first true handbag. In August 2017, I launched a modest page, and just two weeks later, I received my first order. Thus was born Karmina Estela Handmade — the official beginning of my journey. From 2017 to 2023, there were years of dedication, trials, experiments, and inevitable failures. Through them, I discovered that to make a true mark, flawless execution alone was not enough — there had to be a signature, an unmistakable imprint. I prayed for inspiration -- for a vision that no one else had yet brought to life in natural leather. The answer came: an idea that would later become the foundation of the Carmina Estela Method. In 2023, within my atelier, while fulfilling commissions and experimenting tirelessly, I discovered the Carmina Estela Method — a unique technique that transforms natural leather into a new visual and tactile experience. It was precisely what I had been searching for: the ultimate difference, the expression of an art that transcends the ordinary. I first applied the Carmina Estela Method to a handbag I created for myself. I tested it relentlessly for more than a year, until its durability and strength were beyond doubt. By the end of 2024, the technique was revealed to the world. Thus, after seventeen years of wandering and eight years of building, Karmina Estela Handmade evolves into Carmina Estela, giving birth to a new era — a universe where natural leather becomes functional art, where every piece is not merely an accessory, but a declaration of identity, elegance, and legacy. Throughout this journey, one principle has never changed: my unwavering refusal to compromise on quality, durability, and authenticity.
