Our Artisan Partners

The Andes Collection has travelled from the Andean mountains of northern Argentina. Here, our artisans partners use sheep’s wool to create monochrome and neutral rugs inspired by the desert landscape. Featuring simple geometric shapes, repeated and arranged to create original patterns, which their ancestors have woven for centuries. Traditional Argentinian motifs often represent mountainscapes and ways of cropping the fields, amongst spiritual meaning. These groups of weavers work in workshops as cooperative communities. They are incredible talented and carry the patience needed to weave intricate rugs as our Andes collection.

Weavers of the Monte & Suncho are incredibly talented, stoic women who practice traditions that have been passed down through the generations. They have a strong sense of heritage and are devoted to their culture. Weaving is their way of supporting their families and raising their standard of living. Their desert homeland of the Monte is characterised by cactus and native plants, humble mud houses known as ranchos, goats, pigs and sheep. The people of the Monte set their looms under the shade of big trees close to their homes so they can watch their children play with the animals and take care of their daily duties.

Weavers from the Puna belong to indigenous Argentinian communities in Northern Argentina. Even though they are connected to the outside world, they are still fiercely independent and deeply connected to Pachamama, ‘Mother Earth’. People of the Puna have their own special culture and beliefs; their ways are old and of a different time to ours. They are observant and profoundly influenced by nature’s ways. They weave because they always have – it is part of their everyday life, along with other activities such as taking care of their llamas and sheep. They are gentle, genuine, beautiful souls.

Artisans featured in the Litoral Collection belong to Wichî indigenous Argentinian communities in the country’s north. They live a secluded, traditional way of life in remote parts of the country known as Litoral zones, often close to a river or water source. These talented artisans knit bags, baskets and textiles from the fibres of the native "chaguar" plant. They live according to the laws of nature and look to flora and fauna for artistic inspiration. Both use textiles and handmade objects to record ancestral knowledge and pass down their traditions.

The Litoral Collection has travelled from isolated parts of Argentina known as Litoral zones. Woman of the Pilagá extract the leaves of the
Carandillo plant, transforming it into beautiful objects. In women’s
organizations, the best artisans teach the youngest the art of weaving by transmitting ancient knowledge. This is how they achieve unique pieces. Since the Carandillo plant is not cultivated, they only take part of it, leaving it capable of regenerating new leaves. After the leaves have been collected, they start shredding them. This process allows the leaves to be transformed into thin and soft fibres that will then be used as threads to weave the baskets.

The QOM' weavers live within the dry forest of Northeast Argentina. The indigenous community known as Qomelec' inhabit the harsh landscape live in very dry conditions all year round, mostly isolated from the post-colonial way of life, but deeply connected to their Toba culture and Pachamama, ‘Mother Earth’. Textiles in the QOM' Collection feature simple geometric shapes, repeated and arranged to create original patterns, traditional Argentinian motifs often represent heritage and folklore

The Cuyo weavers live in Northern East of Argentina in small colonial towns were time moves slow and siestas are almost a religion. Weavers in the Cuyo region of Argentina have been weaving with sheep wool since pre-colonial times. Using undyed yarns, these textiles feature simple lines, repeated and arranged to create original patterns. Neutral panels with pops of tonal colours are woven from a mix of sheep, giving Cuyo textiles a soft, warm character.

The Maya Collection is made in Momostenango, in Totonicapán, Guatemala. Cushions and Rugs in the Maya collection use yarns that are dyed in natural colourways and designs that play on the wool’s textural features. They are made using traditional techniques by foot-loom, watching the weavers work with these instruments is truly mesmerising. 

Weavers who make the textiles and objects found in our Porteño Collection live in urban Buenos Aires, where craftsmanship is highly esteemed and immigrant women from rural South America come together to form weaving collectives. Inspired by the multiculturalism and flow of ideas in Argentina’s biggest city, they often incorporate more modern designs and techniques into their products.

Argentina is known for its superb, high-quality leather and so it was only a matter of time before we incorporated it into our growing collections. In Buenos Aires we met up with specialist leather craftsmen in their workshops where they create beautiful, bespoke leather work under fair trade standards. These workshops in Buenos Aires exist to foster a love and appreciation for this long-established craft, with the intention of passing their learned skills and a wealth of knowledge down for generations to come.