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Women are leading the transformation of the future of carpentry in Latin America and the Caribbean
Greisly Avendaño from Venezuela and Roxana Castillo from Chile work with innovative tools that facilitate furniture construction in their carpentry workshops
Ahead of interzum bogota, one of the most significant fairs in the timber and furniture construction industry in Latin America and the Caribbean, which will take place from May 14 to 17, influencers Greisly Avendaño (@MamaCarpintera) and Roxana Castillo (@diyroxana), along with María de los Ángeles Silva, Project Manager of interzum bogota, shared insights during an Instagram Live about the evolving role of women in furniture making and woodworking.
During the conversation, topics such as their personal experiences in carpentry, their favorite projects, their philosophies, and approaches to working with wood, as well as their recommendations for staying current with trends and their visions for the future of carpentry and the role of women, were discussed.
"I've never been afraid of tools, and I find it easy to pick up any and use it, though I do respect some, like saws. What keeps me up at night is the design of a piece of furniture and how to make it so no screws are visible," Roxana stated.
She added, "Indeed, women handle design very well, as paying attention to detail, besides knowing how furniture is assembled and what hardware to use. I love this combination, and it's a plus for any carpentry workshop."
Emphasizing the contributions of women in this industry, Greisly did not hesitate to highlight the order and dedication women apply to their work to ensure everything turns out as expected and truly perfect: "Women's delicacy is an important issue. It's not that men aren't delicate, but we have that essence."
Undoubtedly, women are key in transforming this industry, which, in Colombia, has seen an increase in the number of women employed in the carpentry sector by up to 25% in the last five years, according to recent data from the National Institute of Statistics (DANE).
Roxana and Greisly are just two examples of the many women who decided to go against the current and work in an area where their labor was not so recognized and valued in the past. Nevertheless, their contributions are increasingly relevant, and this is due to a fundamental aspect for the development of any job, confidence.
"When you meet a woman who explains something to you with authority and who knows what she is talking about, people relax a bit. In the end, it's all about being confident and believing in yourself," Greisly concluded.
At interzum bogota, you will have the opportunity to meet these two pioneering carpenters, who will be featured in the academic agenda during the fair, from May 14 to 17 at Corferias.
