Sobral - The man behind the name

Carlos Sobral began his career as a designer in Rio de Janeiro during the hippie movement of the 1960‘s. At the time Sobral was designing hand-made products such as tire -sole leather sandals and bags, and jewellery made from corroded acid. From the very beginning, Sobral was inspired to create his works using found, recycled materials, a responsible process that he continues today. He travelled between craft fairs and cultural events for years, even knocked on restaurant doors, to find buyers for his hand-crafted goods. But distribution was difficult, as there were so many other artists trying to earn a living the very same way. 

In 1976 Sobral attended a craft fair in Rio that would prove to be a major turning point in his career. It was here where Sobral was introduced to polyester resin material, which he saw being used by Argentinean jewellery makers. The beautiful colours and shapes created from this unique, natural material was an instant inspiration for the young designer. From that point Sobral began to learn about and seek out this material, which he started using exclusively as he expanded his jewellery designs in Brazil.

Encouraged and inspired by his discovery of this resin material, Sobral opened a small workshop in the rear of a barn in Nova Iguaca, Brazil in 1978. Here his new company named Genesis was born, which would later become Sobral.

Sobral was now creating jewellery of beautifully unique shapes, colours and styles and grabbing the attention of the fashion world. Into the 1980’s Sobral was seeing a great interest in his creations, getting media attention through newspapers and magazines and television interviews. As Sobral grew in popularity, he also outgrew his small workshop, which he expanded in 1981

Sobral travelled to Paris in 1982 to introduce his resin jewellery to the fashion world of Europe. His creations were well received there and quickly became as popular in Europe as back home in Brazil. Sobral continued to grow in size and popularity through the 1980’s and 90’s, earning recognition and respect throughout the jewellery and fashion industries of the world. Today, through his vast network of distributors, Sobral products are sold in ten countries through hundreds of authorized retail shops. Sobral also operates thirteen Sobral boutiques throughout the America’s and Europe

Sobral has achieved international success with retail galleries in Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Heidelberg and Honfleur.  In recognition of Sobral’s fierce sense of design and attention to quality, he has received the prestigious Etoile de Mode award four times at the famed BIJORHCA designer jewellery show in Paris. In 2006, he won the ultimate honour, the Best in Show award for his famed “Pop Art” collection, competing with more than 600 exhibitors from around the world.

Reproduced with kind permission from Sobral's official site at www.sobralusa.com