Esther Ramos Owner of Canela a Spanish Hand fan shop
Esther Ramos Owner of Canela a Spanish Hand fan shop
When 20-year-old Esther first landed in Germany, little did she know that some 20 years later she’d become the ultimate ambassador for authentic Spanish artisanal hand fans – showing Berliners the great beauty and practicality of this century-old accessory.
‘Hand fans are like handbags or shoes. There are many different forms, sizes, designs, and prices.’
That’s how Esther Ramos describes hand fans, an accessory she sees as aesthetic as it is practical. ‘In the small sauna of Berlin’s high summer U-Bahn, something as simple and ancient as a hand fan becomes incredibly useful as the perfect, pocket-sized air conditioner’, says Esther. Especially in the backdrop of climate change, hand fans are the ultimate sustainable way to cool oneself.
Born and raised in Madrid, she recalls they’ve been present in her life ever since childhood.
‘In Spain it’s warm and the fan culture is very common. At my home, fans have been used often. I have always been fascinated by them, like most children are.’
The intricate mechanisms and enchanting sounds they make are certainly captivating.
‘I see it when kids come to my stand at the marketplaces. The fascination upon opening up the fan, and curiosity to find out what’s painted inside.’
Esther’s degree was German studies, with plans to become a teacher one day.
‘Over my first stay in Germany I worked as an Au-Pair in Hanover and found the city frighteningly small, shops closed at 6 o’clock in the evening. I come from Madrid, where there’s always something going on.’
It’s no surprise that Berlin, where she went a year later, suited her better.
‘I really liked it. Not because everybody says Berlin is nice, but based on my own experience.’
Having then studied at Humboldt as an Erasmus exchange student and also met her future husband here, in 2000 she eventually decided to stay in the capital, completing a further training in sustainable tourism. She worked as a tour leader and events and tour operator in I-contravel for the next few years.
When I’m deeply convinced about something’s value, I can easily sell it.
The experiences she gained back then, whether in part-time student jobs or at the travel agency, proved useful later on. Namely, in 2014, wanting to resume working after a maternity break, Esther ventured to set up an enterprise selling traditional Spanish hand fans. Overall, whenever she came back from travels to Spain, she would always gift some to her friends in Berlin.
‘I had had this idea with fans for years, and it was the right moment to put it into practice. A new beginning.’
‘Back then, there wasn’t much discussion about climate change. It’s not that I started because of it, but that was an aspect, you know, back then, there weren’t many air conditioners in Germany either’
I thought, something so simple and timeless, likely one of humanity’s oldest accessories — why isn’t there anything like this?’
She started with a small investment, developing gradually.
‘I’m not the kind of enthusiast who jumps in blindly. I tried everything slowly, seeing what happens and always having a plan B.’
‘I never imagined I could start something like this myself.’
With the aim to provide Germany with the finest handmade authentic fans, Canela (Spanish for cinnamon) was born. The name is a nod to the Spanish expression canela fina, equivalent to the crème de la crème.
‘At the beginning I had to try many places, now it’s only two weekend markets and the online shop.’
Today Canela retails up to 500 models – from classic minimalistic designs to elaborate collector’s pieces.
‘I do everything on my own. My online shop and videos, handling the social media, tax returns…’
Summer is especially busy (up to a thousand purchases per month!), with numerous orders flooding in. Alongside established variants as well as accessories for them, Canela offers customised versions, letting the clients choose the fabric, type of wood and patterns. Canela can even provide companies with promotional hand fans (check out the Tageszeitung shop, for instance).
Esther coordinates the fan-manufacturing process, as it can take up to even 12 people (based in separate ateliers) to make one! She currently cooperates with about 16 workshops, maintaining close contact with the craftsmen families.
‘I love getting in touch with my compatriots, talking to them. The Spanish are very warm and open’.
There are artisans who specialise only in cutting and engraving the sticks or ribs which form the fan’s monture, craftsmen who handle the leaf (mount) painting or those who do the stringing. Esther wants to learn the process to one day lead workshops and share the knowledge.
‘I have suppliers who have been working with the product for five generations. But it’s dying out because there are fewer and fewer people willing to learn the craft. What I’m doing helps a bit but it’s merely a grain of sand…’
She keeps on discovering new aspects of fan-making.
‘It’s like falling in love. The more you know about the work and the people behind it, the more you appreciate it’.
No wonder the craftsmen she cooperates with have hailed Esther as a cultural ambassador. Yet, despite the pervasive eco-conscious ambiance throughout Berlin, you still don’t see crowds on the U-Bahn using this elegant device to alleviate the heatwave’s torment.
‘A lot of clients buy them as an uncommon gadget. Due to the heat there is a slowly growing demand for fans, although in Germany many are still ashamed. They think it’s something exotic, something foreign.’
But fans do not exclusively come from Asia and Europe can also boast an impressive tradition in fan-manufacturing.
‘We sure get looked at, but I always say it’s because people are jealous.’
‘I have always found them practical and elegant.’
The reason for purchasing a hand fan is very much similar to that of getting a handbag – aesthetical motivations merge with practical needs. Indeed, when we meet on a cloudy afternoon for a coffee, Esther carries a foldable umbrella and a compact, minimalistic fan – both essential for Berlin’s capricious weather.
‘I own fans in many different colours and sizes (currently 24!) so that I can choose a fitting one. But I don’t necessarily match them with outfits. The one I have today, it’s suitable because my bag is small.’
First and foremost it’s about convenience and personal taste. Same goes for fan-opening techniques – one needs some practice – but ultimately it’s up to creativity.
‘Develop your own style. It’s a bit of a game’
she swiftly lets the fan unfold..
‘and, of course, opening it with two hands is also fine’
she adds with a smile, eyes sparkling with excitement.
This interview was conducted by Berenika Serwatka as part of our July 2024 magazine guide to Berlin:
