Founded by Juan Manuel Simón Pérez, better known in his environment as 'Ban', the Isla Bonita Moda collective adds to its portfolio of brands a new creative project focused on leather craftsmanship.
The quality guarantee seal Isla Bonita Moda, promoted by the Department of Economic Promotion of the Cabildo de La Palma, through the public company Sodepal, incorporates the firm Ban, founded by the leather craftsman Juan Manuel Simón Pérez, a resident of the municipality of Villa de Mazo in La Palma, into its programme.
The island's head of Economic Promotion and Trade and CEO of Sodepal, Miriam Perestelo, stresses that the incorporation of this firm into the Isla Bonita Moda family of brands "shows the strong commitment of this project to the artisans of La Palma, as the passion and care they put into preserving these traditional trades is an example and a driving force for the brand".
Perestelo also points out that fashion creators find in craftsmanship a unique contribution of value. "Projects like Ban, which fuse traditional values with the style trends dictated by the fashion industry, are a true reflection of the identity of projects that we are proud to have as part of Isla Bonita Moda.
Juan Manuel Simón Pérez
His personal history goes back to his childhood, when he discovered his passion for handicrafts, and shortly after in his adolescence during his military training - creating leather bracelets that he sold or exchanged with his comrades - and then continuing to make small leather goods and learning the trade in a self-taught way.
In 2008, encouraged by his environment due to the growing popularity of his 'guarachos', he decided to take the tests to obtain a craftsman's licence and he began to value his profession more and more. In addition, in the following years he completed his training in the craft of leather goods in workshops in Argentina and visited markets and exhibitions in Alicante and Elche, as well as in other countries such as Morocco.
Focused on the production of leather shoes, shoeskin bags, belts, handbags, wallets, fanny packs and other leather accessories, all their production is handmade, without using any type of machinery. He has also collaborated with firms from the Isla Bonita Moda label such as Diazar Atelier or Pedro Juan, and also with the La Palma Artesanía project.
