The Best of Our Own: Fashion
By Kelly Knaub
Nosara-based clothing line Nabruk Designs – a collection of soft, versatile pieces created in earth tones – was inspired by a female character named Nabruk, who comes from the imagination of 27-year-old designer Claudia Miranda.
Nabruk lives in the jungle, and has a body made from parts of the earth: bones of wood, skin of bark and hair of leaves and twigs. “This is a character I created to personify this flow of inspiration that comes when I’m around nature,” Miranda said.
The San José native created Nabruk Designs while visiting the Osa Peninsula two and a half years ago. Equipped with a sewing machine, her own creativity and a lot of passion, Miranda started the clothing line on her trip using light and flowing fabrics suitable to the tropical climate. After the demand for her clothing grew, Miranda met fellow seamstress Giselle, who helps her with production along with two other women.
Miranda began to visit her sister, who lives in Nosara, three years ago, and was so captivated by its beauty that she moved there a year later. “I fell completely in love with the place. The magic and power of the ocean and the everyday connection to nature here are such an inspiration,” she said. “It is also a great place where I can meet people from all over the world.” Last November, Miranda and her sister opened Manta Raya, a shop that sells her clothing as well as other local designers’ work.
Nabruk Designs’ pieces are made from textiles found in San José, which are mostly cotton with a small percentage of spandex. The rich, natural surroundings of Nosara – the beach, the jungle, the sounds from nature, the earth colors, textures and tones – all influence Miranda’s design style while creating the clothing. Her goal is to make practical clothes that can be worn over a bikini while barefoot at the beach, while dressing up in the city, or while simply chilling out at home. The young designer, with her ecological heart, hopes to create an organic line in the near future.
