You don't just have to go to Toledo to admire the embroideries of Lagartera: you also have to go to get knitted garments. Specifically, those of Vezavena. The premise may sound forceful, but as we make stops related to the world of fashion, let's add one more. And not only for advocating crafts and local things, but also for a purely aesthetic matter: Vezavena's knitwear has managed to sneak into the closets and photos of a good handful of experts in fashion thanks to affordable and versatile designs. And fair, and responsible. And with history.

Behind the signature of the V are Roberto Pinilla, CEO and Paula Pinilla, Brand Manager; father and daughter who lead a team that, as Paula says, "share our values ​​and passion for knitwear and the brand". Be careful, because it is anything but small: there is a "project, commercial and digital management department, a design team made up of two wonderful designers and a technical office and production control department, in addition to all the support work of the factory staff: programmers, dressmakers, administration, logistics, etc.", says Pinilla.

Taking into account that the project was born in 2021, in the midst of a pandemic, the magnitude of the team may perhaps surprise you. There is a trick: "For 40 years, my paternal family has been dedicated to the textile industry, designing and developing collections for countless brands in Europe," explains Paula. "One of his strengths was his creative capacity, as well as his knowledge and mastery of the knitted fabric, but, nevertheless, it has always been third-party companies that have benefited from it." Until now, of course.

The enormous background that it has in terms of technical and logistical knowledge is a good starting point for Vezavena to work (as well) as it is working, but that does not mean that everything is simple. Far from it: adapting to new times and narratives always requires an extra effort. "By using recycled and sustainable qualities, the range of possibilities is considerably reduced," explains Paula. "At Vezavena, we only choose yarn suppliers from Spain and Italy, which also helps us reduce carbon dioxide emissions derived from the transport of merchandise."

"Recycled yarns are always more complicated than traditional ones", develops the brand manager. "The colors tend to be more muted, and you don't always get the softness of a knit using non-recycled fibers," she says. However, they have managed to find in the quality EKOBOBBY, from the Italian Casa Del Filato, a fiber with which they feel comfortable. His composition? Cashmere, wool, viscose and recycled polyamide. That of HEAVEN ECO belonging to the house Miroglio Filati, the main fiber in the upcoming spring-summer 2022 collection, is mainly Viscose Lenzing Ecovero, which is combined with BCI certified cotton (for PARK spinning FINE, from Bemiva) and regenerated viscose (from LATTICE, from the same Italian house). "We still have a long way to go, and it's difficult to get a quality right without having worked with it before," says Paula.

Those acronyms and names that speak of sustainability should not clash with the localism of Toledo. At least, not in these times. "For me it is very important that people understand where the garments they are buying come from, as well as the work and effort behind each one of them," explains Pinilla. "Personally, I am involved in all aspects of the production chain and I supervise the making of each one of the garments that are made exclusively by hand." To add another coordinate to this particular map that defines Vezavena, it should be noted that these 'handmade' garments are made in the Toledo factory that Paula's grandfather created in 1982.

For the family that makes up Vezavena, having anchorages in Toledo is an advantage; so much so that Paula sees the future of fashion as a local. "We cannot afford to maintain the accelerated pace of consumerism and production that has been achieved in recent years," he reflects. "People have gotten used to receiving everything instantly, buying on impulse and discarding after a short time. Making garments thousands of kilometers away is no longer (and never was) a sustainable or responsible alternative."

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The mention of sustainability is inevitable for a brand in the here and now, so much so that sometimes the discourse can feel handled. But it is not the case of Vezavena and Paula Pinilla: "The planet needs a breather, that we all slow down. Now more than ever it is essential that we as consumers and Vezavena as a company contribute our bit and invest in creating a positive impact Perhaps on an individual level it does not mean a significant change, but if we all start consuming and living consciously and responsibly, we can contribute to a better world."

In this better world, the planet shares prominence with the community, one of the concerns of Vezavena, which has the BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) social responsibility certificate. "They have carried out the SMETA audit at our factory facilities, one of the main ethical audit formats most used in the world", explains Paula. "Evaluates a site based on your organization's standards in terms of labor, health and safety, environment and business ethics. Obtaining it means the guarantee of responsible business practice and recognition for the efforts made in the last year."

"As we now incorporate sustainable practices into our activity as a company, we focus mainly on raw materials, the production process, and the working conditions of our employees," continues Pinilla. "They are all from the province of Toledo and/or surroundings; in this way, we give work to many families that are part of our community."

These people are the ones who are in charge of buying the bobbins of thread, of making the fabric in knitting machines "by individual panels" (a piece of information: "a technician needs between two and three days to program each design" ); the unions in sergers, the final auctions by hand. They are also the ones that filter the information that will be introduced in each collection, which ranges from the trends of the latest fashion shows to cinema, music, art or nature, going, of course, through the women who inspire the Vezavena woman, a profile in constant construction.

"For us, she is an intelligent, charismatic, curious, feminine and ambitious woman," says Paula. "A confident woman who isn't too obsessed with fashion or chasing the latest trends. A woman who doesn't just look for eye-catching pieces, but sustainable, responsible, and quality pieces. A woman who doesn't try too hard, which is very obvious, but still draws attention wherever it is".

Who wouldn't want to be her?