USU Student takes skills learned in Colombia to Create Small Business
When he was living abroad in Colombia, Hayden Hoopes, founder of Mana Beadwork, noticed bright, beaded bracelets on many people’s wrists. He quickly learned that they were known as “Manilla” bracelets.
The Manilla bracelets consist of beads and string woven together to form a bigger design. Hoopes realized he wanted to create these for himself, so he set out to learn how.
“While in Colombia, many people gifted me these bracelets. I thought it would be fun to do for myself,” Hoopes said. “I asked around on the streets where I could find things for the bracelets. Everyone I asked seemed to know about this one secret building. So, I went to like downtown Colombia which is pretty sketchy, then I went into the building and I went to the fourth floor. There was just this room and they had literally everything you need for the bracelets for really cheap.”
Hoopes supplies come directly from Colombia. Hoopes explained how he uses a loom, string and beads to create his bracelets. It takes him six hours of needle and thread to create a finished product.
“The hardest part is getting the beads
. I have to get them straight from Colombia. After that it’s just a lot of going back and forth. You have to weave the bead to each string individually. I taught myself while there. I’ve had a lot of fails, but I finally figured it out,” Hoopes said.
Hoopes returned to Colombia during spring break to get more beads and he has more being sent his way, thanks to his girlfriend in Colombia. After learning the process of the bracelets, Hoopes’ business needed a name. He chose the name Mana Beadwork because of the bracelet’s name, “Manilla,” and the Spanish word for hand, “mano.”
Hoopes said his inspiration for his designs come from his time in Colombia and, “Pinterest helps a lot.”
“I like looking at different things for inspiration. I look for sort of ancestral or tribal designs. I think that those look best on bracelets,” Hoopes said.
This unique design pattern caught the attention of Jake Barney, a customer and friend of Mana Beadwork. Barney saw the bracelets and wanted to become involved. Barney is currently working on a logo for the company.
“I am all about DIY, so I asked him to show me because I was interested. One of my favorite things is that it is customizable,” Barney said. “I’m always wanting to design things. Being able to help with this and design my own bracelet was really cool for me.”
Since wearing his custom bracelet around campus, Barney has received positive feedback.
“I got it on Monday and have been wearing it around. The neat thing is that a lot of people have come up to me and ask me about it,” Barney said.
Mana Beadwork is working on getting the word out about their product. They are still in a stage of growth, but they have polished their process by knowing exactly what they are making and selling. As a Spanish and business major, this business is just the beginning for Hoopes.
“This is just like one of the business I want to start. I’d like to do something in the future where I start my own business working with Latino Americans. Hopefully I can use this to generate more money for my next ideas,” Hoopes said.
Mana Beadwork bracelets sell for $25. Soon they will be running from their own website as well.
“The purpose behind the bracelets, it is important. The bracelets are cool, but also there is a future prospect out there that this came from South America and it will go back to South America. My hope is that it will benefit them in the future,” Hoopes said.
—shelby.black@aggiemail.usu.edu
@shelbsterblack