Pura Vida!
Need a bit of inspiration for your next collection? Or maybe you just need to slip away for a quick moment to be surrounded by lush forests, experience mountainous, volcanic, forest and beach regions all at the same time? Then make your way to Costa Rica. The colors alone reflect the coming trends for any collection. Stay in an eco-friendly resort and stock up on pencils because this country is full of ideas and inspirational themes. Our Guest Contributor, N. Jamiyla Chisholm will give you the 411 on where to stay, what shoes to wear and what to expect on your trip.
Take Off
Country: Costa Rica
City of Interest: Saraquipí
Frequent Flyer Mileage
Costa Rica is 3,998.6 miles from New York City and 3,443.3 miles from Los Angeles.
If you have the miles, upgrade to first class. The comfort of space,
leather chairs and champagne at will makes the flight that much more
bearable and painless. Remember, to get to Saraquipí, everyone must
endure a 75-minute drive from San Jose.
Relax
Six hours from LAX with one stop in an array of cities (Atlanta, Houston, Dallas or Mexico City).
Five hours from JFK with one stop usually in Florida or Atlanta.
Though the flight isn’t long, the drive is. It’s best to rest as much as
possible inflight to hit the ground running, without jet lag, upon
landing.
Expense Report
Flight plus hotel for a five-day trip can range from $700-$1200 per person. A rental car is needed and easily purchasable at the airport. Not to worry, Costa Ricans use the same side of the road as Americans and road signs are easy to understand. Expect to spend very little as a couple hundred dollars can go very far here (1 USD=594.12 CRC) and USD is widely accepted.
Time Management
The sun or chirping birds will wake you early or even your own
internal alarm clock. As one of the most eco-friendly countries on the
planet, Costa Rica conserves energy, power and lights by using only
what’s needed. Once the sun sets, expect darkness to hover and sleep to
come quickly so maximizing those daylight hours is a must.
Stay
Hotel Hacienda Sueño Azul
Saraquipí is a tiny town but it houses the wonderfully exclusive Sueño Azul eco-resort where zip lining, horseback riding and visits to butterfly sanctuaries can be booked.
To get closer to the fun and the airport, opt for the Baldi Hot Springs Hotel and Spa that sits at the feet of the Arenal Volcano and offers volcano, forest or garden views and comes equipped with Wi-Fi, mini-bar and cable TV on a Plasma screen (rates start as low as $86 during the weekday check-in during December).
Forecast
It’s not easy to predict the seasonal weather because Costa Rica is
forest, beach and mountains and subject to experiencing rain at any
given moment. Keep in mind San José and the Central Valley feels like
perpetual spring, the highlands are cold, the Pacific and Caribbean
coasts always feel like summer and the forest is misty and cool.
What You’ll See
Black sands, green lush forest, flowers of every kind from orchids to
heliconias, beautifully colored birds and if lucky, half of the Earth’s
plants and animals, which are said to be found in rain forests.
Where to make shoes in Costa Rica.
Navigating through the country will put any design house in pure wonderment. The beauty of the earth, the exotic animals, the conservation efforts are limitless. Finding a manufacturer in Costa Rica is as difficult as it is to get through the thickets.
Designer Highlight
CRUDA
CRUDA shoes are handmade, mostly of leather and wood, with the intention that each one has something special and unique. Pamela Hernández, Costa Rican artist and designer, has shown her artistic work both nationally and internationally, individually and collectively.
notjustalable.com
Shop CRUDA @PROVEER | shopproveer.com
Fairs & Expos
Sustainable fashion is a must when producing in Costa Rica. There are many organizations that gather and flock to the country expressing the importance of multi-use fabrics, textiles and recycled fiber development. One fair to watch out for is presented by the, OMNIA Foundation.
OMNIA is a non-profit sustainability organization — founded by Andrea Somma and Carmen Busquets in 2017. During the summer its first maiden event took place with noted fashion players from around the globe focusing on the green and eco-friendly future movement of fashion.
From June 7 to 9, 2018, the 3-day summit was hosted in San José, Costa Rica, and was also broadcasted online for the public to watch. Speakers included model and UN environment programme ambassador, Gisele Bündchen and Elle US Editor-In-Chief, Nina Garcia.
Insight to Import Business in Costa Rica
Nearly 70 companies in the Colon Free Zone (CFZ) are among the most affected by the tariff measures imposed by Colombia, the main importer of footwear and textiles that is re-exported from the FTA to Latin America.
centralamericadata.com
Good Read
Take a look through this A-Z publication on sustainable fashion, transparency and more, while you are up in the air coming up with a better way you and your company can move towards a better future, a better you, a better planet.
You can purchase the “FASHION, ENVIRONMENT, CHANGE” Magazine HERE.
Take some time to learn about the efforts of FASHION REVOLUTION. And try to get more involved.
