ABOUT ADRIANA MARINA

-PhD Economics. Researcher about inequality, poverty and growth. Grad. in Systems Analysis. Founder of animaná, Foro de Moda Ética Latinoamérica (Ethical Fashion Forum Latin America) and Hecho Por Nosotros.-

Adriana Marina was born in Patagonia, land of sheep and guanacos, where she coexisted with communities of Tehuelches and Mapuches, learning first hand about artisan culture and the natural fibers they use.

After studying Information Systems and Economics in Buenos Aires, Adriana moved to Salta, where she lived for ten years, directing an international program with the EU, Project ALFA. She researched themes of social and economic convergence, inequality and poverty in Argentine regions, thereby becoming closely acquainted with Andean artisans and their handicraft techniques. Adriana then moved to Europe, to take up a scholarship for a PhD, examining the growing inequality between regions of Argentina.

Together with a group of like-minded people, Adriana successfully promoted hand- crafted products in Spain. Realising the true socio-economic impact of this venture gave her the conviction to lead her own social project.

Having developed fifteen years of valuable experience, Adriana brought to life three complementary organizations: The 'Ethical Fashion Forum Latin America' that promotes a holistic response to the fashion process in order to meet present needs without compromising future generations. Then, the NGO 'Hecho x [por] Nosotros', a grassroots not-for-profit that works with artisans across the entire length of the Andes to recover their ancestral techniques and adapting them to the needs and quality criteria of modern customers, and finally the social enterprise Animanà that exports Ethical Chic from the Andes and Patagonia to the world.

+Info: ar.linkedin.com/pub/adriana-marina/6/209/b75 ABOUT FORO DE MODA ETICA LATINOAMERICANA

The Latin American Forum for Ethical Fashion is an institution which is open to all projects related to sustainable fashion. Its goal is to promote the principles of Ethical Fashion, innovation and sustainability, among those involved in the fashion industry.

The Forum is composed of an interdisciplinary group of economists, academics, designers, social entrepreneurs, communications experts, consultants, NGOs, foundations and volunteers that invest their time and efforts, capacity, capital, and networks of knowledge to promote an alternative, sustainable and competitive market model. The 'Ethical Fashion Forum Latin America' promotes a holistic response to the fashion process in order to meet present needs without compromising future generations.

In the network we count with ethical providers, firms, designers working in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Brasil, Mexico, Colombia, USA and Canada, and we work in partnership with Ethical Fashion Forum London and Ethical Fashion Show (now Grees show).

We had some experiences on courses and conferences that have a big impact all across Latin-America. We did many classroom activities in Argentina, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil, and last year the first On-line course. We gave two lectures by WEBINAR technology, bringing together professionals and fashion people throughout Latin America with over one hundred and twenty participants, teachers, students, designers, and people from governments to support social inclusion through design programs, and communication.

This space through technology is linked to many institutions, companies, certifications, sustainable purchasing areas from companies such us IKEA, MARK SPENSER and LEVIS, and institutions such as EFF, EFS and markets that have more consumption capacity and seek sustainable alternatives for consumption.

+More Info: http://www.modaetica.com/index.php?idioma=en ABOUT HECHO x NOSOTROS

'Hecho x [por] Nosotros', is Non-governmental, not-for-profit organization that works with artisans across the entire length of the Andes to recover their ancestral techniques and adapting them to the needs and quality criteria of modern customers.

The NGO acts as a platform which provides tools and opportunities, creating a safe environment among people with different manual skills, low economic resources and the will to grow, who either live in urban settlements or underdeveloped areas. It does, by going into depth and preserving their regional identity, valuing the manual art and the survival of the cultural heritage as the elements generators of the socio-economic change.

The NGO works together with over 30 associations, which operate with more than 500 artisans. We understood their needs and generated important improvements in their management and production systems, working on the value chain and collaborating in the improvement of design.

HxN won the Ashoka competition with a project which works on empowering and forming 60 young artisans in Cafayate as micro entrepreneurs.

+More Info: http://hechoxnosotros.com/index_eng.html ABOUT ANIMANA: “Ethical Chic from Patagonia and the Andes”.

The Social enterprise Animanà (meaning ‘a place in heaven’ in the almost extinct Kakane language) was created promoting the revival of culture, arts and secrets of Patagonia and the Andes through fair trade, local development and the incorporation of added value to natural fibers of the region.

Through the collaboration with local artisans to market their products for what they are worth, Animanà creates livelihoods, acts as catalyst for development in the Andes, and has become a distributor of innovative knowledge and techniques on an international level.

In terms of raw materials, the brand works with the natural fibres of the region. Fibres obtained from camelids, such as llamas, guanacos, alpacas and vicuñas, are highly valued for their softness and durability and animaná endeavors to protect all camelid species. Animaná also works with silk from the Andes, native organic cotton, merino wool and chaguar, supporting the revival of traditional ecological techniques such as manual spinning and the application of natural dye pigments. In addition, the company supports the re-cultivation of a native Peruvian cotton variety that was grown for some 5000 years until it was replaced by the white cotton production of the nineteenth century.

With regard to design, as well as image and marketing, animaná has also received support from international fashion consultant Dominique Peclers. Thanks to her commercial eye and invaluable expertise, many Andean artisans have started to create, out of traditional triangular shawls, beautiful contemporary blankets that are being sold in Japan and Europe today.

More recently, and following the sustainable design strategy, animaná has welcomed a new talent, Suzie Hall, who is a former member of the design team at People Tree, London.

Working with young Argentinian and international designers that has the goal of re- introducing them to their own ancestral heritage, while giving support to explore new dimensions of creativity, are bound to have a long-term impact.

+info: http://www.animanaonline.com/eng/index.html