Colombia: Women in Colombia Pioneer Coca Leaf Ink, Turning Stigma into Opportunity

Jun 30, 2025 | Darvin Salamanca
Colombia One
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Colombian designers Mónica Suárez and Daniela Rubio run Ginger Blonde, a graphic design and visual communication studio pioneering the use of coca leaves as a natural ink. Over the years, their studio has evolved into a creative hub, blending aesthetics with sustainability, economic development, and artisans’ collaboration.

In a conversation with Colombia One, Suárez shared the journey behind Ginger Blonde’s innovative use of coca leaves, which is now attracting significant attention both in Colombia and internationally.

Founded in 2016, the studio emerged from Suárez and Rubio’s shared experiences as Industrial Design students at Colombia’s University of the Andes. In 2022, their ground-breaking project came to fruition serendipitously during a natural dyeing workshop in El Tambo, Cauca.