Never Letting the Craft Go: Marcela Rozo of Please Rain
In the 86th episode of Perceived Value, host Sarah Rachel Brown records from Bogotá, Colombia, where she visits Marcela Rozo, artist, designer, and founder of the textile brand Please Rain. With an unconventional background that combines economics, anthropology, and design, Marcela left a stable career in public policy to follow her passion for craft and handmaking.
Their conversation explores the long and winding path from economist to maker; how Marcela rebuilt her career around textiles, founded her own rainwear label, and became one of the longest-standing residents at Materia Prima Escuela de Joyería. She reflects on motherhood, entrepreneurship, and the delicate balance between creative fulfillment and financial sustainability.
Together, they discuss the intersections of craft, community, and education and how Marcela’s collaborative workshops with Materia Prima continue to blur the boundaries between textiles, ceramics, and jewelry.
📍 CONNECTOR: Jewelry as a Language of Connection opens November 15, 2025, at Gallery Loupe in Montclair, New Jersey—just ahead of New York City Jewelry Week.
🎧 This episode is sponsored by SNAG Metalsmith, the publication of the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG). Subscribe and save 25% with code VALUE25 at snagmetalsmith.org.
I am passionate about the world of crafts, with an unconventional background combining economics, anthropology, and design. After training in these areas, I specialized in pattern making and obtained a master's degree in Interaction Design. I have had the opportunity to manage a bespoke tailoring workshop, work as a consultant in art and culture, and, for the past 8 years, I have had my own brand of printed garments. My work continues to focus on reviving crafts and the value of manual labor, exploring materials and techniques.
