Sustainable Luxury, Craftsmanship and Vicuna Poncho

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.