Science is spark for graduate Jessica’s designs
Venezuelan SAMS graduate Jessica Giannotti set up her marine-science inspired luxury accessories company Crùbag, based at the Old Teaching Lab at SAMS.
Here she tells The Oban Times what prompted her to start up her company.
‘I started Crùbag out of a desire to raise awareness and share the incredible aspects of our oceans that remain inaccessible to us.
‘As a student of marine science, I often saw something unique, an unseen colourful, rich and fragile world that deserves to be known, understood, cherished and protected.
‘At SAMS, I was learning about the marine environment in a holistic way. This approach inspired me to combine creativity with science. The inspiration was everywhere.
‘I realised that communicating the beauty, richness and importance of the oceans in innovative ways, combining science-based development with inspirational designs was my mission.
‘I wanted to materialise this unique world in a tangible way, so textiles became the ideal canvas.
‘You can touch the fabric and wear the sea on your skin and feel connected to nature. Now, as a designer, I collaborate with marine scientists to develop ethical textile collections paired with science-based campaigns and booklets with the story behind the collection.
‘Our colourful vibrant textiles conceptualise mostly unseen aspects of our oceans, marine life and the environmental issues of our time.
‘We share inspiration, ocean-literacy and give a percentage of our profits to research institutions to support continued research.’