First of all, we would like you to introduce yourself and tell us who Claudia is in a more personal way.

 

 

Oh, this is a tough one! I wouldn't know where to start. There are so many things that make me up that we'd spend a long time on this question. Both the basics and Casa B. I was born and raised in Mallorca, but I went to an English school, so from the very beginning I was between two cultures. Also, my mother is American! My parents have always pushed us to see, get to know and understand the world and other cultures, so we've been lucky enough to travel a lot. After finishing school, I went to study Design in London and my sister and I moved into a flat together, and that's when the concept of Balandra really started to flow.

Tell us about your career, what makes you come back to Mallorca?

 

I actually came back to Mallorca because we had the house here, and for me it was the perfect place to start Casa Balandra. I remember, for years, dreaming about how we would redo the house, how we would redecorate it. I spent a lot of time daydreaming about it. In the end, I decided. We set a date and, until then, my goal was to accumulate as much experience as possible. In that year, before starting Casa Balandra, I moved to Paris, then back to London and, from there, to Italy. Since I have returned, apart from having lived through a global pandemic, I have come to know Mallorca in a very different way and I have had the opportunity to meet creative people from many parts of the world. It is clear that there is no comparison between London and Mallorca. For me, both are super special places that have shaped me a lot.

How did the project come about, its connection to childhood and family history?

 

The project was actually (believe it or not) born with the idea of ​​Balandra as a culture and as the culture that is now in Balandra's home, but through shoes. We started designing Menorcan sandals and espadrilles, and at one point we realized that it was not really what we wanted. But the soul of Balandra continued to be the idea of ​​bringing people together, enjoying every moment (big or small), and letting yourself be carried away by every situation... In the end we realized that the perfect space was the house where we grew up, and that is where we learned this lifestyle, through our mother. She always created magic, even if it was just Valentine's breakfast! And we thought it would be a nice way to tell our story.

 

 

Why Casa Balandra?

 

When we were looking for a name, we wanted something that could be said in any language and that sounded good. We thought about a thousand names, but this one (courtesy of a friend) sounded really good and fit in very well with our philosophy. Balandra is a small boat that, for us, represents not only the island but also the idea of ​​multiculturalism, the concept that when you travel, you adopt different customs and cultures.

 

What are Casa Balandra's projections, ideas, and future approaches?

 

Right now we are working hard on the products part, to make a shoppable guesthouse . From here, perhaps, one day in the future we will have another space that represents Casa Balandra through one of the branches of food, art and hospitality.

 

Why do you think it is important that what we choose lasts over time?

 

I think that once you are aware of the mass consumption that surrounds us, you no longer do things in the same way. For me, fashion is where this consumerism is most appreciated. I prefer to buy something once a year, that is of good quality, that comes from a sustainable company because, even if it costs me more, I know that I will take better care of it and I will have it forever. With jewelry, for example, I realized a few years ago that I am one of those people who lives in their jewelry and does not take it off even to shower, sleep, swim, exercise, etc. I preferred to invest more and have it last a lifetime and, thus, be able to give it to other important people who will also have it for a lifetime.