Jessica Estraviz Freire

Mar de Miranda

Soap maker

©Angelo Ramos

©Tatiana_Oller

©Angelo Ramos

The call of tradition

Jessica crafts her soaps in a way that respects tradition and the environment
Quality, design and innovation are her leading criteria for excellence
She loves challenges

During the pandemic, Jessica Estraviz Freire had the time and courage to embark on the creation of her own project in artisanal soap making. Born and raised in Galicia, surrounded by nature and close to women like her grandmother who would make their own soap to fulfill family needs, Jessica's vision in launching her workshop Mar de Miranda was to follow this tradition, crafting a product that embraces quality and respect for the environment. Self-taught through observation and research, Jessica employs the cold saponification as well as the melt and pour techniques. She uses natural ingredients and preserves their essences and properties. Her soaps are crafted with love and care to nourish and moisturise different skin types, for sensory well-being.

Interview

©Angelo Ramos

©Angelo Ramos

Is there a close connection with tradition in your craft?: Indeed, the first soap I made was a 2kg lavender bar which I gave as a present to my family. I can proudly say that I have family memories connected to soap-making, and when I decided to start my own workshop it was also a way of paying homage to this tradition.
Why is soap making special?: It is an eclectic craft. It allows the artisan to be creative and draw from different sources of inspiration, mine being fashion, gastronomy and architecture, to achieve unique designs. I enjoy looking after special orders, creating a one-of-a-kind product.
How do you communicate information on the products you make?: I like to keep a conversation with my customers, explain the ingredients and what is behind the making of my soaps via my blog. It takes months to make an artisanal soap as it needs to be kept to rest for a few weeks before being suitable for use.
What are your recent professional achievements?: To be able to carry out bespoke projects is challenging and rewarding. For instance having our products chosen by an important local foundation as Christmas presents was a big achievement. Or when designer Moisés Nieto relied on us to design and make a line of soaps for his brand.

Jessica Estraviz Freire is a rising star: she began her career in 2020 and she started teaching in 2022