Sustainable Luxury, Craftsmanship
and Vicuna Poncho
Roxana Amarilla, Miguel Ángel Gardetti, and Marisa Gabriel
Abstract Sustainable luxury presents as a meeting point for traditions, cultures,
values and needs. It offers an opportunity to rescue and expand the cultural heritage
of communities, enhancing their history to share it with the world. Craftsmanship
is at the heart of sustainable luxury because artisans are the ones who add value to
objects. The Vicuña Poncho produced at Laguna Blanca, Catamarca, is an object
with a deep symbolic character which is representative of such community. Artisans
show their sense of belonging, unity and values in this garment. As they continue
with these practices, they can teach the most exquisite technique and reflect the
ancient knowledge of their ancestors—the indigenous communities of the region.
Meanwhile, they create a top-quality finished product that can be framed into sustainable luxury. The following chapter deals with sustainable luxury, craftsmanship
and handcrafted quality. The chapter introduces some concepts that offer a theoretical framework to subsequently delve into the Vicuña Poncho universe. It offers a
description of both this object, highlighting its historic and current symbology, and
the ancient aboriginal practices still used by artisans, to conclude with thoughts about
the importance of sustainable luxury and the appreciation of the Vicuña Poncho to
empower artisans and expand their horizons.
Keywords Vicuña · Poncho · Sustainable luxury · Craftmanship · Laguna
Blanca · Catamarca
R. Amarilla (B)
World Crafts Council Latin-American, Carlos Pellegrini, 485, 1st Floor E, Buenos Aires,
Argentina
e-mail: roxanaamarilla@gmail.com
M. Á. Gardetti
Center for Studies on Sustainable Luxury, 5th “B”, Paroissien, 2680, C1429CXP Buenos Aires,
Argentina
e-mail: mag@lujosustentable.org
URL: http://www.lujosustentable.org/
M. Gabriel
Sustainable Textile Center, 5th “B”, Paroissien, 2680, C1429CXP Buenos Aires, Argentina
e-mail: mara@ctextilsustentable.org.ar
URL: http://www.ctextilsustentable.org.ar
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
M. Á. Gardetti and I. Coste-Manière (eds.), Sustainable Luxury and Craftsmanship,
Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3769-1_2
25
and Vicuna Poncho
Roxana Amarilla, Miguel Ángel Gardetti, and Marisa Gabriel
Abstract Sustainable luxury presents as a meeting point for traditions, cultures,
values and needs. It offers an opportunity to rescue and expand the cultural heritage
of communities, enhancing their history to share it with the world. Craftsmanship
is at the heart of sustainable luxury because artisans are the ones who add value to
objects. The Vicuña Poncho produced at Laguna Blanca, Catamarca, is an object
with a deep symbolic character which is representative of such community. Artisans
show their sense of belonging, unity and values in this garment. As they continue
with these practices, they can teach the most exquisite technique and reflect the
ancient knowledge of their ancestors—the indigenous communities of the region.
Meanwhile, they create a top-quality finished product that can be framed into sustainable luxury. The following chapter deals with sustainable luxury, craftsmanship
and handcrafted quality. The chapter introduces some concepts that offer a theoretical framework to subsequently delve into the Vicuña Poncho universe. It offers a
description of both this object, highlighting its historic and current symbology, and
the ancient aboriginal practices still used by artisans, to conclude with thoughts about
the importance of sustainable luxury and the appreciation of the Vicuña Poncho to
empower artisans and expand their horizons.
Keywords Vicuña · Poncho · Sustainable luxury · Craftmanship · Laguna
Blanca · Catamarca
R. Amarilla (B)
World Crafts Council Latin-American, Carlos Pellegrini, 485, 1st Floor E, Buenos Aires,
Argentina
e-mail: roxanaamarilla@gmail.com
M. Á. Gardetti
Center for Studies on Sustainable Luxury, 5th “B”, Paroissien, 2680, C1429CXP Buenos Aires,
Argentina
e-mail: mag@lujosustentable.org
URL: http://www.lujosustentable.org/
M. Gabriel
Sustainable Textile Center, 5th “B”, Paroissien, 2680, C1429CXP Buenos Aires, Argentina
e-mail: mara@ctextilsustentable.org.ar
URL: http://www.ctextilsustentable.org.ar
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
M. Á. Gardetti and I. Coste-Manière (eds.), Sustainable Luxury and Craftsmanship,
Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3769-1_2
25