The Aleph

I, Moon, want to tell you a story that took place in a forgotten corner of Buenos Aires, in a workshop bathed in my light, where an artisan faced her loom.

She was not an ordinary weaver; in her hands lay the power to weave fabrics, dreams, time, and memories.

This woman, whose name was lost in the whisper of the streets, had discovered an ancient secret: a weaving point, a pattern, which when executed correctly, revealed an Aleph at the heart of her creations. An Aleph, as Borges described it, was a point in space that contained all other points, a place where all the gazes of the universe converged.

Initially, she used this knowledge to capture the essence of Argentina in her fabrics – the texture of the Andes, the whisper of the Tierra del Fuego forests, the vibrant colors of Buenos Aires. Each garment was a universe in itself, a fragment of Argentine reality woven in merino wool and natural fibers.

As her art evolved, the designer began to see beyond. In addition to her country’s landscapes, the intertwining of her threads had captured moments of everyday life, the echoes of a tango resonating in the streets, the conversations of people gathered around a cup of coffee.

Her workshop became a sanctuary, a place where the boundaries between time and space faded. Those who entered could see, in the complexity of her fabrics, the beauty of a garment, the story of a person, the dance of nature, and the harmony of the cosmos.

On one occasion, the woman prayed for me to hear her. She asked me to illuminate her to create a collection that would be music for the soul, where light textures, pastel tones, and natural dyes would honor lightness and enduring beauty.

In each design she had managed to hide an Aleph. Those who wore her garments experienced a deep connection with the world, a feeling of unity with nature and humanity.

The artisan, in her workshop shielded under my light, had woven a bridge between art and spirit, between people and the universe.

Her legacy was a path to a future where each thread reminded us of our connection with everything around us, a future where each garment was an Aleph: a portal to the infinite beauty of the world.

Process

We welcome the first new moon of 2024 with our Collaboration 33. On this occasion, we have invited the Argentine brand Maydi, by designer María Abdala-Zolezzi.

This firm seemed like a great choice to start this cycle due to the way it integrates Argentina’s natural and cultural wealth with an innovative approach to design and sustainability, materialized in unique knitwear garments.

From the beginning, María’s vision was clear. In 2014, she asked herself a specific question: “What are the main resources we have in the country to create a brand that’s 100% local?” Her answer led her to discover the treasure of merino wool and other Argentine natural fibers, laying the groundwork for a project that combines local with sustainable, and ancestral with contemporary.

Maydi’s creative process is a sensory exploration, as she recalls in an interview with us: “My creative process begins with the contact with the fibers,” she says, emphasizing the intimate connection with each selected material. Each season presents a new challenge and a new opportunity to integrate sustainable materials into unique and contemporary designs.

Inspiration also comes from other sources. “My first inspirations come from nature, and also from contact with each fiber,” says María. This inspiration is enriched by travel, observations of everyday life, art, music, and personal experiences, all of which are reflected in each Maydi design.

Committed to environmental and social impact, the brand adopted, from its creation, a local and custom production approach, avoiding excess stock. “The purpose as a brand was to promote local production and custom production without generating stock,” she remembers. This philosophy extends to the use of natural fibers, such as wool, bamboo, and hemp, chosen for their biodegradability and low environmental impact.

For María, one of the most notable achievements has been “to be the first Argentine designer to obtain Wildlife Friendly certification, and to be positioned as one of the Latin American brands that adhere to the principles of fair trade and environmental care”. This reflects not only the commercial success of the brand but also its commitment to a sustainable and ethical model.

The collection that Maydi presents in Mexico through Loona, entitled “To the Rhythm of a Song,” is an ode to lightness, versatility, and sustainable beauty. “These pieces were thought out in the lightness of their textures and weaves, in pastel tones and natural dyes,” recalls the designer, underlining the timeless and artisanal character of each piece.

Looking to the future, María sees Maydi as a beacon of hope and a role model in sustainable design. Her vision? “To continue on the same path with the expectations of being an example for future generations.” With Maydi, María Abdala-Zolezzi has brought to life a philosophy of respect and love for our planet and its resources.

The collaboration with Loona marks an important milestone for this brand, merging art, fashion, sustainability, and ethics. As María states: “I am very happy to be part of Loona, a space where art, fashion, sustainability, and ethical values converge.”

Thus, this Collaboration becomes a celebration of Latin American craftsmanship and a step forward towards a more conscious and respectful future for the environment.