Catamarca Weavers’ Design Lands at Paris Fashion Week Thanks to Two Sustainable Argentinian Brands

“An intimate and sensitive ode to the values ​​of tradition and gaucho folklore that represent the brand.” Syes defined magazine vogue in 2021 to one of the collections of ON HORSEBACK. Crossed by contemporaneity, the firm raises since its creation the figure of the gaucho to the rank of fashionable language, translating into accessible, timeless, modern and durable clothing.

“Produced in Las Pampas, and designed to treasure”, is like its creators, Sofia Achaval de Montaigu and Lucila Sperber, describe it. The recycling of discarded textiles, the careful system of circular processes that promotes the reduction of waste and the collaborations with Argentinian artisans are some of the pillars of sustainability in which ON HORSEBACK it holds.

More recently, the brand with the Argentinian imprint of accessible luxury, He organized his classic dinner as part of the season of Paris fashion week and presented on this occasion its strategic alliance with Andean, a unique initiative that unites the ancestral practice of weaving vicuña wool with the most disruptive technologies on the market.

The proposal, created by Florence Sosa and his partner Florence Bovoresearch empowering and exalting the weavers of catamarcans showcasing his work. Each poncho It’s not only a craft product luxury and 100% sustainable, but also has a NFT which traces the history of the one who wove it blockchain.

This initiative is particularly important in the northern Argentina, where the practice of weaving has been passed down from generation to generation, becoming part of their Cultural DNA. Every weaver delays six months in the making of each poncho, which makes it a unique and truly special piece.

The project is based on a fair trade model and circular economy, where all profits obtained from the sale of the coins are reinvested in social impact projects for the community. The project believes in the value of technology for the conservation and preservation of ancestral knowledge, allowing a intergenerational dialogue and connecting to women Argentines from inhospitable areas with the global market and the future.

The alliance between the two firms means a socio-cultural and commercial bridge between Argentina and the world, Catamarca and Paris. The values ​​of both brands go hand in hand when it comes to deepening the repair of the social fabric in remote areas, through the creation of luxury, sophisticated, unique and handmade products. Andina products are available on the main fashion galleries in Paris.

“We seek to generate a direct impact in communities and in the lives of weavers, strengthening the fabric of artisanal work with innovative chains that enable constant production. Valuing their heritage, we connect stories and give visibility to the work of hundreds of artisans,” say Sosa and Bovo.

The namesakes, colleagues and friends of the university, assure that they are constantly “looking for new projects that challenge us as young people and entrepreneurs. We are interested in the ideas you bring innovation technological with social impact and that they can represent us as Argentines in the world. We believe in the strength and potential of women. We want to tell their life stories and collaborate so that their work is recognized and valued”.

In honor of the gauchos, guardians of the South American countryside, Achaval de Montague and Sperber they co-founded ÀCHEVAL. Growing up in Argentina, they experienced the “gaucho spirit” up close and learned to ride horses from an early age.

Admire the nobility of the singular combinations of these runners, have decided to start this adventure by reliving this precious and memorable experience. “With ÀCHEVAL, we wanted to bring this world back and adapt it to our times and to the new standards of luxury”, they say.

Sharing the same passion for the equestrian world and the pampas, the famous polo player Nacho Figueres and his wife, Argentine photographer, businesswoman and athlete Delphine Blaquier They decided to support the brand by joining the adventure.

Produced exclusively in a local textile factory in the Pampa region (Argentina, Uruguay and southern Brazil), it is more than essential for the brand to stay true to its roots and preserve its ethical values ​​by valuing artists and artists. ‘arts and crafts. Embracing the “pampas” feeling, ÀCHEVAL offers a new range of unique, timeless and charming equestrian clothing.

Latin American soil is the most fertile land for the growth of sustainable creators. In recent years, in the region, many companies that promote ethical, sustainable, conscious and responsible practices, both with the planet and with those who inhabit it. Each of them, in their own way, represents the great and magnificent creative diversity that exists on Latin American soil, raising the voices of the different indigenous communities and rooting their ancestral knowledge.

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