The Crin Collection

The Crin collection aims to give value to a traditional Chilean technique that originated about 200 years ago, able to give individuals the ability to shape their own identity and leave a lasting trace thanks to their craftsmanship. The technique consists of braiding and weaving horsehair and was born in Rari, a small village located 300km from Santiago in the foothills of the Andes. The process begins with washing the fibers, which are then dyed using natural or synthetic pigments. Dyed horsehair is woven through only using fingers to create a unique material full of cultural and historical significance. This project was done in collaboration with Marcela Sepúlveda, a master artisan originally from Rari and expert in crin. The mutual influence between the design world and the artisan one made it possible to investigate the possibility of combining the crin technique with the reality of art toys. The convergence of the two poles resulted in a collection that encloses a richness of human experience, surpassing the initial goals aimed by the project. The exchange and approach with a different culture fuels the designer's sense of social responsibility. The goal is to respect and maintain the relationship the individual has with the environment and local traditions, making it possible for the natural creativity of the individual to blossom. The collection has given form to four characters: Carmelita, Altiplánico, Aguayo, and Poncho. Their garments incorporate cultural elements from across Chile: northern clothing styles with southern weaving techniques.