Elena Casco and "Del Barro": Highlighting Honduran Pottery

«An initiative born amid the pandemic. Del Barro strives to revitalize the art of pottery and create pieces that showcase the talent of local artisans. »

With a background in Public Relations and Marketing from Loyola University Chicago; Elena Casco, founder of “Del Barro” (meaning “From the Clay”), stands out as a Honduran entrepreneur who currently has converted her passion for design and art into a project that looks to transform and leverage Honduran pottery. We had a talk with her to find out more about her business and its vision.

When did your interest in local pottery start, and how did the "Del Barro" initiative come about?

I wanted a vase that I saw on the internet, but it was pretty expensive. Then one day, while visiting a friend's farm in Comayagua, in the middle of the pandemic, by chance I met Isael, Cristóbal, Jorge and Nelson, who are artisans from the area. Talking with them, I told them about some ideas I had and gave them the task of making me a vase. When I returned and saw what they had done, I was fascinated! It was at that moment when something clicked in me. Seeing how everything was around us, I decided that this was going to be my path and that I wanted to do something that would benefit the artisans because, at that time, no one was buying from them and the country was closed due to the pandemic.

I immediately started making trips to the workshop to absorb all the possible knowledge about this art that, unfortunately, is becoming forgotten in the country. Pottery is an inherited occupation, the son sees the father, and he decides to follow in his footsteps; with globalization, there are fewer potters every day. The new generations that grow up with technology are no longer interested in working with clay.

That is how my admiration for this craft and each stage of the process, all equally important, was born. As I learned and saw how difficult it is to prepare the clay, the physical work of each day, the creation of each piece by hand and finally the firing, it became a fascinating process for me. I felt very proud of them and their work. That was how Del Barro was born, the first months were very tedious due to the pandemic, but little by little, we were creating pieces and connecting with the artisans.

Tell us a little about the pottery artists behind Del Barro?

The artisans of Del Barro are talented Hondurans who keep alive a craft they inherited from their parents and grandparents. It all began in Comayagua where I met Isael, Cristóbal, Jorge and Nelson, the artisans with whom I started working.

Then I started looking for potters from different regions who worked with different styles and techniques. That is how I found Mrs. Julia and Mrs. Domitila in "La Arada", municipality of Goascorán in the Department of Valle. They are struggling single mothers dedicated to Lenca pottery, which is very common throughout the east and south of the country. We are currently in conversations and exchanging ideas with potters in La Campa, Lempira. I have my first trip scheduled there in a couple of days. Near Tegucigalpa, we have been working with people from Santa Ana (a municipality in the Honduran department of Francisco Morazán).

I want to put these communities back on people's radar through the art of pottery so that more people will come to look for these handicrafts. This way, we will help leverage the artisan and the community so that with more people visiting, the local economy in those areas will be revitalized.

How is the response of the Honduran public to Del Barro?

Organically we have been growing and every day more and more people buy our handicrafts. My favorite part is when a customer or a friend sends me a photo of a piece of clay or porcelain and they say "I thought of you" or "for inspiration" that just makes me proud because it makes me think that our mission to educate our followers about the art of clay is working!

With each passing day, people are becoming more aware of handcrafted products.

What has been your experience, so far, working with the local potters?

Very good, they are people who have placed their trust in me and we have created an exceptional and solid working relationship. They are skilled potters and, above all, very hard workers. I admire them for their commitment to a market that is a small and uncertain niche sometimes, but there they are, every day, making and firing pieces without knowing if someone will notice and value them. These artisans are genuinely determined to keep moving forward and maintain this craft.

What were some of the difficulties you encountered when you started this initiative?

I have had a couple of difficulties, mostly because of the logistics of getting to each place. When the potters saw a design, I often found that they automatically say "I can't" without any attempts; that's when I have to persuade them to try. In the beginning, I felt that they didn't take me seriously; I don't know if it was because other people in the past have given them bad experiences, but it was hard for them to trust me and thus establish a working relationship with me.

What are your goals and future plans for Del Barro?

Short term: to continue positioning the brand nationally, create original content and products to allow my customers to buy more than once. To continue emphasizing, documenting and teaching the local market about pottery and the process that each piece takes.

In the medium term: find a way to make more deliveries nationwide. Reach places like Olancho and La Ceiba, which, currently, are difficult for me due to problems I've had with the shipping companies, as the pieces sometimes arrive broken to the client due to incorrect handling.

To travel more domestically and work with artisans from other areas of the country, such as the Lencas and use their techniques with our designs to create unique pieces and highlight the beauty and talent we have in the country.

And in the long term: to export my handicrafts abroad, to take Del Barro pieces to the United States, which is a market with greater purchasing power, where handmade products are appreciated and where clay work is considered an art. In this way, we can give a sense of pride to our artisans and let them see that their work is appreciated and that it is something truly valuable.

Before ending, any message you would like to share with our local and foreign readers?

Honduras is a five-star country with a lot of diversity, culture, history, and art. We have a lot to offer, culturally, to a foreigner who wants to visit our country. We encourage you to come as Honduras is a jewel of Central America and has a lot to be discovered by you.

Follow Del Barro on their Instagram account: @Del_Barro