Farm to Crafts

About Farm to Crafts

Welcome to Farm to Crafts, the podcast exploring a project bridging the gap between Curaçao's farmers, crafters, and designers. Since 2023, this initiative has worked to strengthen the island's agriculture and creative sectors by turning natural fibres into high-quality design products using local techniques. On an island once dismissed as "Isla Inútil," this team challenges that narrative. It's where design, ecology, and community meet. In this 5-part series, host Nelly Rosa takes you behind the scenes of this local creative experiment, using the land for new perspectives.

Publisher

Designing Perspectives Foundation

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Jul 2026

Latest episode

4 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

5 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   4 Aug 2026

   Caribbean Identity: How its reclaimed by fashion label BOTTER

   In the final episode of Farm to Crafts, we turn our attention to fashion. Our guests are the founders of the fashion label Botter (https://www.instagram.com/botter.world/): designer duo Rushemy Botter (https://www.instagram.com/rushemybotter/)and Lisi Herrebrugh (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisi-herrebrugh-333b36b2/). Known for their innovative approach to fashion, Botter explores themes of culture, identity, and social responsibility through a distinctly Caribbean lens. Their work challenges traditional ideas of luxury and celebrates the complexity of Caribbean aesthetics. The recording happened through Zoom. From Curaçao, we connect with the fashion duo in their home in the Netherlands, where their daughter occasionally joins the conversation in the background. It offers a glimpse into the reality of two designers balancing an international fashion career with family life. Rushemy was born in Curaçao and moved to the Netherlands at a young age. Throughout his career, his Caribbean background has remained an important source of inspiration. Together with Lisi Herrebrugh, whose family roots connect to the Dominican Republic, they explore how Caribbean perspectives can exist within a global fashion landscape. In this conversation, they reflect on what it means to create from a place of connection while living elsewhere. How do you honor your roots without reducing them to stereotypes? And how can fashion show the Caribbean in all its complexity? In this final episode we celebrate design as a form of storytelling. For Botter, the Caribbean is not a singular image. Their designs often explore contrasts. They are interested in the realities behind the postcard images. Their perspective connects strongly with the philosophy behind Farm to Crafts: returning to local knowledge, valuing materials, and creating from a place of care. Whether working with fashion or crafts, the underlying question remains the same: how can design contribute to a more connected and sustainable future? Connect with Farm to Crafts: https://www.instagram.com/farmtocrafts/ (https://www.instagram.com/farmtocrafts/) https://www.facebook.com/FarmtoCrafts/ (https://www.facebook.com/FarmtoCrafts/) Our quarterly newsletter (https://mailchi.mp/9b541f135ab9/looking-back-forward-12752904?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnBAgB_U6MkkWw7cXH4A8b3kVEvOtrqCD-aV18dm_e9dDHcDQd0Ws9Hhuo0fs_aem_rPDvdDBjAxRhuK7siA3r8A) ⁠www.farmtocrafts.com⁠ (www.farmtocrafts.com) ABOUT Welcome to Farm to Crafts, the podcast exploring a project bridging the gap between Curaçao's farmers, crafters, and designers. Since 2023, this initiative has worked to strengthen the island's agriculture and creative sectors by turning natural fibres into high-quality design products using local techniques. On an island once dismissed as "Isla Inútil," this team challenges that narrative. It's where design, ecology, and community meet. In this 5-part series, host Nelly Rosa takes you behind the scenes of this local creative experiment, using the land for new perspectives.

2. 

   28 Jul 2026

   Designing Perspectives: Creating Beyond Colonial Frames

   In this episode of Farm to Crafts, we reflect on the complexities of creating with local materials, engaging with craft traditions, and navigating the legacies of colonial histories in contemporary design. The conversation also touches on the complicated history of natural dyes such as indigo. While celebrated today as a sustainable and ancient craft material, indigo is also connected to histories of colonialism, labor exploitation, and social inequality. This creates difficult but necessary conversations about what ‘responsible’ making truly means. Not only in relation to nature, but also in relation to the people whose labor and knowledge make these practices possible. This week's guests: Lena Winterink (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lena-winterink-843994153/) is a designer and textile researcher. She joined Farm to Crafts as a designer in residence, where she spent time researching the possibilities of banana fibers as a local and sustainable material. Her residency became an exploration of Curaçaoan culture, craftsmanship, and the stories embedded in materials. Rather than approaching banana fiber simply as a new resource, Lena looked at the existing knowledge systems surrounding making on the island. A key influence in her process was her collaboration with Felix Etienne, one of Curaçao’s remaining chair weavers. Loret Karman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/loret-karman-6a92913/) is a specialized hand knitter and yarn dyer. Having grown up partly in Curaçao, she has long been inspired by the island’s intense colors. In this conversation, Loret reflects on the responsibility that comes with working with cultural knowledge, especially as a white designer engaging with traditions shaped by colonial histories. She raises important questions: How do we share knowledge responsibly? What does it mean to return with knowledge that was learned elsewhere? And how can designers acknowledge histories of exploitation while still creating meaningful connections? Through the different perspectives of Lena and Loret, this episode asks how can we create in ways that honor the past without becoming trapped by it? Connect with Farm to Crafts: https://www.instagram.com/farmtocrafts/ (https://www.instagram.com/farmtocrafts/) https://www.facebook.com/FarmtoCrafts/ (https://www.facebook.com/FarmtoCrafts/) Our quarterly newsletter (https://mailchi.mp/9b541f135ab9/looking-back-forward-12752904?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnBAgB_U6MkkWw7cXH4A8b3kVEvOtrqCD-aV18dm_e9dDHcDQd0Ws9Hhuo0fs_aem_rPDvdDBjAxRhuK7siA3r8A) ⁠www.farmtocrafts.com⁠ (www.farmtocrafts.com) ABOUT Welcome to Farm to Crafts, the podcast exploring a project bridging the gap between Curaçao's farmers, crafters, and designers. Since 2023, this initiative has worked to strengthen the island's agriculture and creative sectors by turning natural fibres into high-quality design products using local techniques. On an island once dismissed as "Isla Inútil," this team challenges that narrative. It's where design, ecology, and community meet. In this 5-part series, host Nelly Rosa takes you behind the scenes of this local creative experiment, using the land for new perspectives.

3. 

   21 Jul 2026

   Farm Life: Rebuilding Our Relationship with the Land

   What does it take to be a farmer on a dry island where water is scarce, the climate is changing, and agriculture has long been overlooked? In this episode, we explore the realities of farming in Curaçao through the experiences of the people who work the land every day. Together, they reflect on the challenges of growing food in an arid climate, the importance of water management, and why reconnecting with traditional agricultural knowledge may hold the key to a more resilient future. This conversation highlights the importance of supporting local farmers, valuing their knowledge, and creating spaces where innovation and tradition can grow side by side. This week's guests: Gino Martina (https://www.instagram.com/studioginomartina/) is a designer, artist, hobby farmer, and a member of the core team of Farm to Crafts. Within the project, he leads the team responsible for mechanically extracting fibers from banana pseudostems. Known as the team’s skilled maker Gino also creates many of the wooden structures and handcrafted installations for the project. Joshua Peiliker (https://www.instagram.com/farmlife_curacao/) and Femi Meaux (https://www.instagram.com/femimeaux/) are the founders of Hofi Cas Cora (https://www.instagram.com/hoficascora/), a place dedicated to regenerative farming, sustainability, and reconnecting people with the land. They have opened their doors to Farm to Crafts, which is now headquartered at Hofi Cas Cora. In this episode, they speak candidly about the realities of farming on Curaçao: from water scarcity and climate challenges to the determination required to cultivate healthy crops. They also share why they believe in supporting Farm to Crafts and how design, craftsmanship, and agriculture can strengthen one another. In the conversation Gino, Joshua, and Femi explore why banana is such a natural crop for Curaçao and how its potential extends far beyond food. Connect with Farm to Crafts: https://www.instagram.com/farmtocrafts/ (https://www.instagram.com/farmtocrafts/) https://www.facebook.com/FarmtoCrafts/ (https://www.facebook.com/FarmtoCrafts/) Our quarterly newsletter (https://mailchi.mp/9b541f135ab9/looking-back-forward-12752904?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnBAgB_U6MkkWw7cXH4A8b3kVEvOtrqCD-aV18dm_e9dDHcDQd0Ws9Hhuo0fs_aem_rPDvdDBjAxRhuK7siA3r8A) ⁠www.farmtocrafts.com⁠ (www.farmtocrafts.com) ABOUT Welcome to Farm to Crafts, the podcast exploring a project bridging the gap between Curaçao's farmers, crafters, and designers. Since 2023, this initiative has worked to strengthen the island's agriculture and creative sectors by turning natural fibres into high-quality design products using local techniques. On an island once dismissed as "Isla Inútil," this team challenges that narrative. It's where design, ecology, and community meet. In this 5-part series, host Nelly Rosa takes you behind the scenes of this local creative experiment, using the land for new perspectives.

4. 

   14 Jul 2026

   Echoes of the Past: How Industry Silenced the Land

   What happens when a society is taught to turn away from the land that once sustained it? In this episode, we explore how Curaçao’s relationship with nature, agriculture, and labor was fundamentally reshaped after the abolition of slavery on July 1, 1863. As industrialization and wage labor gradually replaced agricultural livelihoods, profound cultural shifts followed. This week's guests: Cindy Eman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyvlieshouteman/): is a member of the core team behind the Farm to Crafts project, where her passions for science, nature, sustainability, and agriculture come together. She leads the project’s environmental and scientific components, helping bridge traditional knowledge with contemporary research. Her work includes developing and overseeing experiments with botanical dyes made from locally grown plants, while also contributing to the conservation and cultivation of Curaçao’s native species, including indigo, dushi kabei, and brasia. Through guided nature walks, Cindy introduces participants to the island’s unique flora and shares the rich history of traditional indigo production, including the historic indigo vats found at Malpais. Rose Mary Allen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rose-mary-allen-88898a3/): is one of Curaçao’s leading cultural anthropologists, whose research has focused extensively on the history of slavery, emancipation, and post-emancipation society on the island. Throughout her career, she has documented the lived experiences, resilience, and cultural heritage of Afro-Curaçaoans, challenging dominant historical narratives and bringing overlooked stories to light. In this conversation, she places Curaçao’s relationship with nature into its broader historical context, dispelling long-held myths while recovering valuable knowledge that has gradually faded from collective memory. Together, Cindy and Rose Mary reveal how history continues to shape the way we think about nature, agriculture, and the environment today. They challenge assumptions about weeds, gardens, and cultivation, reminding us that a healthy landscape does not have to be stripped of greenery or covered in concrete. Instead, they invite us to rethink our relationship with the natural world and rediscover the wisdom that has always been present in Curaçao’s landscape. Connect with Farm to Crafts: https://www.instagram.com/farmtocrafts/ (https://www.instagram.com/farmtocrafts/) https://www.facebook.com/FarmtoCrafts/ (https://www.facebook.com/FarmtoCrafts/) Our quarterly newsletter (https://mailchi.mp/9b541f135ab9/looking-back-forward-12752904?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnBAgB_U6MkkWw7cXH4A8b3kVEvOtrqCD-aV18dm_e9dDHcDQd0Ws9Hhuo0fs_aem_rPDvdDBjAxRhuK7siA3r8A) www.farmtocrafts.com (www.farmtocrafts.com) ABOUT Welcome to Farm to Crafts, the podcast exploring a project bridging the gap between Curaçao's farmers, crafters, and designers. Since 2023, this initiative has worked to strengthen the island's agriculture and creative sectors by turning natural fibres into high-quality design products using local techniques. On an island once dismissed as "Isla Inútil," this team challenges that narrative. It's where design, ecology, and community meet. In this 5-part series, host Nelly Rosa takes you behind the scenes of this local creative experiment, using the land for new perspectives.

5. 

   7 Jul 2026

   Farm to Crafts: Between Theory and Practice

   How do you transform a wild idea into a tangible, locally made product and perhaps even a blueprint for the Caribbean of tomorrow? In this first episode, host Nelly Rosa welcomes two guests to explore the origins of Farm to Crafts, unpack the concept of systems thinking, and discuss how this initiative can contribute to a circular economy on Curaçao. This week's guests: Cleo de Brabander (https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleomaxime/) is a designer and the driving force behind Farm to Crafts. She shares her vision on preserving authenticity, explains the four pillars of social design, and reflects on her journey of rediscovering her own Caribbean aesthetic. Juan Carlos Goilo (https://www.linkedin.com/in/juan-carlos-goilo-96874ba/) is an anthropologist and systems thinker. He places the project within the broader context of sustainability and the circular economy in Curaçao. Juan Carlos explores how colonial trade routes continue to shape what we import today, and how designing from the resources beneath our own feet can create genuine local value. Together, they discuss the challenge of competing with mass-produced goods from China, the innovative process of extracting banana fibres, and how a traditional craft such as weaving can evolve into a uniquely Curaçaoan designer chair. It's a conversation about creative innovation, radical openness, and rediscovering the value of the ground we stand on. Listen to Episode 1 and discover the story behind Farm to Crafts. Connect with Farm to Crafts: https://www.instagram.com/farmtocrafts/ (https://www.instagram.com/farmtocrafts/) https://www.facebook.com/FarmtoCrafts/ (https://www.facebook.com/FarmtoCrafts/) Our quarterly newsletter (https://mailchi.mp/9b541f135ab9/looking-back-forward-12752904?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnBAgB_U6MkkWw7cXH4A8b3kVEvOtrqCD-aV18dm_e9dDHcDQd0Ws9Hhuo0fs_aem_rPDvdDBjAxRhuK7siA3r8A) ABOUT Welcome to Farm to Crafts, the podcast exploring a project bridging the gap between Curaçao's farmers, crafters, and designers. Since 2023, this initiative has worked to strengthen the island's agriculture and creative sectors by turning natural fibres into high-quality design products using local techniques. On an island once dismissed as "Isla Inútil," this team challenges that narrative. It's where design, ecology, and community meet. In this 5-part series, host Nelly Rosa takes you behind the scenes of this local creative experiment, using the land for new perspectives.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

4.0 / 5

1 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.