Wooden Ships

"Wooden Ships began with the merging of many of my life-long loves - literature, travel, fashion, and the outdoors."

In 1992, armed with a literature degree from Harvard, a little experience in the non-profit world and almost no money at all, Colombian-born designer Paola Buendía went backpacking to Indonesia to see the rainforest and the orangutans in Borneo. She had just spent a year doing grassroots campaigning for the environment, recycling, and clean water. "People were less receptive to these issues than they are now," recalls Paola. "After a year, I was burned out."

"I set off to see the world, starting in Borneo.. and never left Indonesia. I was blown away by the nature, the sense of freedom, and the possibilities. During that trip, I also realized fashion could be more than a passion. It could be a part of the work of my life. I met so many creative people during my travels, I suddenly saw how it could all come together."