The Beginning
When I first arrived in France, a good 13 years ago, I had a dream: To learn the ropes of Parisian fashion well enough to create a project where I could propel the craftsmanship and art of my native Mexico. A "casa" where I could share the daily life of the autochthonous communities and give them a voice.
France represented a new adventure for me, a different culture, language, and overall a challenge. Here I made many acquaintances that helped me along the way, to overcome difficulties like finding an apartment, finishing my studies, finding a "stage", managing my visas, and finally getting my first job!
Dreams are like engines, and to reach them one must be resilient, share with others, and accept that it will take time.
After years of working as a stylist I was finally able to find my place in this world, to master the functionality and the harmony of a garment...and at the same time I was disappointed to see my impact as a designer. I became aware that fashion is very damaging to our planet and our society.
I’ve always loved textile art and traditional craftsmanship , but I lost a certain form of connection by following an accelerated work scheme, in which there is no room for reflection on the production process. We, stylists, imagine garments that can easily become waste without ever thinking about it.
Yet in 2016, on my 30th birthday, an unexpected travel invitation to Peru, would bring a big change in my personal and professional life.
Peru is a magical place, which took me back to my roots and became my third home. I remember the first time I met Cleida Incacutipa, former team leader for the Heifer International project in the Puno region. She introduced me to incredible women, all dressed in their multi-coloured and voluminous skirts, they seemed to me like little « Marie Antoinettes » who welcomed me with their warm smiles. I had the impression that time had stopped, and I had entered the « real » time.
Herminia, from Conduriri, Puno.
Thanks to these women artisans, the « Mamitas » I learned to take my time, to go back to what is essential, to value the material, the technique, and the feeling behind these works. They opened the doors of their paradise for me, they introduced me to the animals they hold sacred, the Alpacas. This adventure grew little by little, and I wish to thank all the people who make up this great family between Europe and Latin America.
This journal is my way of thanking our ancestors and our artisans. It is an invitation to connect with the new generations of modern day artists who share our philosophy, and to make our story live in our modern day world.
I am certain that resilience, solidarity, and tolerance towards others can elevate our perspective and help us appreciate our culture and our roots.
Our world is nothing other than cultural fusion, meetings enrich us. Craftsmanship holds the essence of being human, and it is only there to be shared, as a tool in our daily lives.
We know that only responsible and thought out productions are possible from now on. We must choose a new way of producing, of working, and of living.
