Meet Helena Silva | Founder & Creative Director, BENT&BREE

We had the good fortune of connecting with Helena Silva and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Helena, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

Working for myself and having the freedom to make my own decisions had always been on the back of my mind. However, after becoming a parent this thought lingered on my mind even more because now, I wanted freedom to be able to spend more time with my child. Nonetheless, the fear of the unknown did not allow me to take the next steps. It was not until the birth of my second child that I decided to take the leap.

It really all started with frustration in trying to find a diaper bag that fit my needs and wants. As a parent, you tend to worry more about the future and how you can make it a better place, especially for your children. I’ve always been conscious of the environment and passionate about animals. Initially, when I first became a mom, I struggled to find diaper bags that didn’t have bunnies, ducks, teddy bears, and weren’t made from plastic (PVC). Years later with the birth of my second child, I still felt the same frustration even though there were some nicer options but continued to be made of PVC or leather. So, I decided to design my own bag and had it made from cork material which is one of the most sustainable materials in the world. I went directly to Portugal, where I grew up, knowing that they are one of the biggest producers of cork. The reaction I got from friends, family and colleagues was amazing after they saw my bag, that I decided to expand the collection to other styles of bags. Today, the Dixie Tote (initially my diaper bag) is our best seller for working women- we have clients that get it in every color. I still use it today to carry all my business needs. I started attending trade shows/events and the brand started expanding nationally mainly with handbags and coordinating jewelry. BENT&BREE can be found online, boutiques throughout the country, QVC, and corporate incentive programs. We also do a lot of custom logo work for corporations since we can print on cork.

Today, we are proudly working with hotels and restaurants that our focused-on sustainability. This is a sector that is growing for us, and we are very excited about. We have what we call our “Sustainable Home” collection which includes ice buckets, serving trays, placemats, pillows, etc. We’re on a mission to remove all plastic from hotel rooms and replace it with cork which is durable, easy to clean, and biodegradable!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always had a creative mind and business mindset. I worked in the textile, jewelry, and juvenile industry mainly in the marketing and product development departments where I held manager and director roles. Initially, I got my bachelor’s in Marketing and when I decided to start my own business, I decided to get my MBA with a concentration in Marketing. This period of my life was very challenging because I was starting my business and had just had my second child. Honestly, if it were today, I probably would have spent the time and money on specific areas of the business or mentorship program that would most likely contribute more to the immediate goals.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My friend is actually coming to visit this week from New England! Stepping back a bit – BENT&BREE launched in Massachusetts in 2016 but we decided to move to sunny Florida at the end of 2019 just before the pandemic hit. It was the best and smartest thing we ever did! My only regret is not having done it sooner. Probably like everyone else, we moved because we could not take the New England weather any longer. We love the outdoors, sun, and beach. There are so many great places here in South Florida. I know that my friend wants to get as much sun as possible so we will be spending as much time as possible at the beach. We’ll be heading to the beach early morning to see at least one sunrise which has an array of breathtaking colors and head west to see the sunset – great meditating spots. I plan to take her to a few local restaurants in Boca Raton (where we are based), Delray and can’t miss Versailles in Miami. I want her to see the Machu Picchu exhibition at the Boca Museum of Art – it was amazing, and I would love to see it again. We love South Florida, and honestly don’t want to brag too much about it because I don’t want any more people moving down here!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
BENT&BREE is a brand based and created from LOVE. You can see this by the icon focusing on the two BBs from my children’s name that created the heart. I would have not started this company if it weren’t for my family. There was a need and a desire to contribute to a better world for them. The support from my husband allowed me to take the leap and gave me the encouragement to keep going.

PersonalHelenaSilv

Website: https://bentandbree.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bentandbree/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10317847/admin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BentandBree

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bentandbree/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJGD_3I8YG9AB6RYazi8iSQ