ARGENTINA’S CRAFTSMANSHIP IN MONTREAL

Acentor de Autor 

An Ecological Approach

The desire to preserve ancestral techniques also comes with an ecological approach, involving the use of materials and methods that are respectful of the planet.

Totl'e is a slow fashion brand that creates products in harmony with nature, its rhythms, and processes. Indeed, the materials used are 100% natural, biodegradable, and free from toxic substances. As a result, each product is unique, with its own textures and color nuances.

Other designers craft their products from recycled or reclaimed materials. For instance, contemporary jewelry brands like Fruto recycle metals to create their products. Blackñandu also employs this technique by reclaiming aluminum from architectural works.

The concept of slow fashion is not uncommon among Argentinian designers in the delegation. Many innovate by finding production methods that best suit their community. The brand Nicéfora has chosen to not follow seasonal collections in order to reduce consumption and waste. The designer creates a single annual collection with features, cuts, adjustments, and colors based on the needs of daily use.

Today, there are numerous environmentally friendly manufacturing methods that are both abundant and easy to adopt. On-demand production, as seen at Pólvora, and quality-focused tailoring, as practiced by Luciana Regolo, are increasingly widespread techniques aimed at reducing clothing waste and overconsumption.

Pólvora

Preservation of ancestral techniques

While some leather-related crafts are fading away, several Argentinian creators have seen their ancestral techniques lost over time. As an emblematic raw material of the country's cultural heritage, natural Argentina leather requires meticulous work and complex methods that few people are familiar with today.

Handcrafted, Acentor De Autor shoes are made with high-quality leather and produced in very small quantities. The duo of founding designers of the brand, Ana Muños and Aldana Torchia, aim to respect and revalorize the craft of shoemaking through their classic designs with contemporary accents. In fact, it's not only leatherwork that is disappearing, but also other even rarer artisanal techniques.

Inherited from her grandmothers, Emilia’s (Velasco) ancestral knowledge, such as crochet, macramé, and knotting, has been passed down from generation to generation. Today, she is the only one in her family who continues to carry forward the history and artisanal techniques that speak of human beings and memory. In the realm of jewelry, it's Marina Massone, and also the creators Marcela and Marina Pascual (mmpascual), who design and craft their jewelry in a workshop using traditional jewelry techniques.

Many young Argentinian creators have recognized the importance of preserving their family's ancestral techniques and, most importantly, passing them on to the next generation. As part of the Zapateras collective, the shoe brand Chicco Ruiz has taken the initiative to teach the craft of shoemaking to women in need. An initiative that showcases the socially responsible aspect of several Argentina brands.

Velasco

A Touch of Modernity

Enthusiastic about traditional techniques and materials, Argentinian brands also incorporate contemporary methods and materials to create an interesting and modern contrast. Whether by blending noble materials like leather with other urban and industrial materials such as aluminum, or by possessing an innovative and artistic vision, Argentine designers stand out both within the country and beyond its borders.

With great honor, the M.A.D Shoppe welcomes products from 12 Argentinian designers to its experiential platform for one month. This is an opportunity for these creators to transcend borders and promote their brands, but it's also a chance for our community to discover the talents and craftsmanship of Argentina.

Chicco Ruiz