We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Eva Barbara Bongard. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Eva Barbara below.
Alright, Eva Barbara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.
While many in the decor industry follow a standardized mass production model, at TWIL, I tread a distinct path that reflects our core values of sustainability, philanthropy, and love.
Sustainability forms the backbone of our approach at TWIL. Unlike industry norms, our creations are crafted from a natural and sustainable material: leather. Each piece carries an echo of the Earth within it. This choice compels us to prioritize suppliers who are audited and follow best practices in producing eco-friendly leather. Ensuring our producers uphold these rigorous environmental standards is a vital aspect of our supplier selection process.”
Our approach to philanthropy sets us apart as well. While corporate social responsibility is often seen as an add-on, for us, it’s central to our operations. A portion of our profits is dedicated to various philanthropic causes, weaving a narrative of giving back into every piece we create.
And finally, love. This may not be a common business term, but for us, it’s a guiding principle. Each product is crafted with passion, love, and careful attention to detail, making each TWIL creation unique and personal. We believe in the power of this human touch, something that industry-standard mass production often overlooks.
This blend of sustainability, philanthropy, and love is the cornerstone of our business, offering added value and perspective to our customers while setting us apart from the industry standard.
Eva Barbara, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am Eva Barbara Bongard, born and raised in Mexico,wife, mother of two, and the proud founder of TWIL -The World in Leather. My journey into the world of leather and art wasn’t conventional. With more than 25 years in the leather industry, I’ve seen its global evolution, particularly in sustainable practices. This evolution and my personal passion for sustainability, philanthropy, and love led to the inception of TWIL.
At TWIL, we’re not your standard art and design venture. We represent the amalgamation of my deep-seated love for Earth, humanity, and art. We offer unique pieces that serve not just as home decor but as reminders of our connection to our planet and each other.
Our vision is to help people worldwide appreciate their bond with Mother Earth and humanity. Our products, crafted from sustainable leather, carry an aura of elegance, beauty, and timelessness, reminding us that we can support each other and pass on what we love and what makes us unique to future generations.
Our mission at TWIL is to strengthen your connection with the planet and people through art, products, and philanthropy. Our core values, sustainability, philanthropy, and love are the essence of everything we do and create. We’re committed to leveraging the leather industry to produce hides using the best ecological processes and design quality products from this sustainable leather.
I’m thrilled to use my extensive experience and knowledge in the service of our customers, providing them with bespoke, quality leather products that symbolize our shared commitment to a more sustainable and interconnected world.”
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Navigating my path in a traditionally male-dominated industry like the leather business, and transitioning into entrepreneurship, has been a journey marked by countless lessons and significant personal growth. Among the most profound of these lessons has been the importance of humility.
When I first stepped into the world of leather, and later when I embarked on establishing TWIL, I carried with me an abundance of passion and an unwavering commitment to my vision. While these have undoubtedly been my driving forces, they have also sometimes led to an overconfidence that clouded my judgment and made it challenging to acknowledge and learn from my mistakes. One of my most significant, albeit costly, lessons was when I overlooked my intuition and put undue trust in the reputation of another company, rather than heeding my inner voice.
In such a competitive industry, there was this unspoken notion that displaying confidence was crucial to success, which often got conflated with masking one’s vulnerabilities. It took me some time, a few tough lessons, and some introspection to realize that humility is not a weakness, but a strength.
I’ve learned that being humble doesn’t mean diminishing my capabilities or downplaying my achievements; it means recognizing that I still have so much more to learn. It means acknowledging my mistakes and using them as steppingstones to improve. It means being open to feedback and other perspectives, and understanding that every person I meet, every experience I have, holds a potential lesson that could lead to growth and innovation.
This journey has also taught me that humility plays a key role in leadership. I realized that to inspire and empower my team, I needed to foster a culture of learning, openness, and mutual respect. Being humble has allowed me to listen, truly listen, to others’ ideas and concerns, and to value the diversity of experiences and skills that our team brings to the table.
Being an entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry has indeed had its share of challenges, but it’s a journey I wouldn’t trade for anything else. It has shaped me, grown me, and instilled in me a sense of humility that now forms the cornerstone of my leadership philosophy at TWIL. It is a continuous journey, but each day, I strive to lead with humility, to learn with an open heart, and to never lose sight of the values that TWIL stands for: sustainability, philanthropy, and love.
Have you ever had to pivot?
A crucial turning point in my life has been the health journey of our eldest daughter, Ashley. Since her birth, she has grappled with numerous chronic health conditions and faced multiple medical challenges. Her local member children’s hospital has been there for her every step of the way, caring for her in a holistic manner that includes her physical, social, and mental health.
Ashley has been treated by various departments including GI, Allergy and Asthma Clinic, Neuro-GI, ER, Orthopedic, Concussion Clinic, Pain Management Clinic, Physical Therapy, Acupressure, and Cardiology. Additionally, she has received homeopathic treatment to manage her symptoms. These experiences, though challenging, have molded Ashley into an advocate for youth mental health. She uses her voice to campaign for continued funding for mental health initiatives to assist more children in local communities.
Her journey has not only reshaped her life, but it has also deeply impacted mine, reminding me of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of hope, love, and support. 
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theworldinleather.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twiltheworldinleather/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twiltheworldinleather
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evabarbarabongard/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/twiltheworldinleather/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter/twil_in
- Youtube: @evabarbarabongard2809
- Other: threads @evabarbarabongard
Image Credits
James Orsini & Brianna Wagner