Maria Abdala-Zolezzi

Maydi is the name of the project that I carry out in Argentina, which has the particularity of using the best natural Argentine fibers, such as merino, mohair and also wild guanaco fiber, and natural vegetable fibers such as bamboo, wild silk, ecological cotton.

I am the first Argentine designer committed to sustainable fashion to obtain the Wildlife Friendly certification, which guarantees the traceability and integrity of the Valdes Peninsula Merino wool used by Maydi. This qualification is based on respect for wildlife, increasingly weighed in the world, and adds value to my proposal.

I use exclusively natural dyes for two brand identity reasons: to add value to Argentine products and to promote the revival of local culture, identity and roots.

I adhere to the principles of fair trade. For this reason, my creations ensure a fair remuneration to the local Argentinean artisans of the province of Buenos Aires, with whom I develop and produce in collaboration; as well as the respect of the heritage of their trade and their art.

I improve the safety conditions in the workplace, encouraging them to work from home, while guaranteeing, in full transparency, their rights and dignity.

I promote equal opportunities for women artisans: I consider them a clear affirmation of the importance of women as transmitters of life and culture in society.

I promote handicraft work, revalorizing ancestral techniques: the loom and the hook. Loom weaving is one of the oldest cultural traditions of indigenous peoples. Crochet has its origins in ancient techniques from South America, Arabia and China, with the first evidence found in Europe in the XVIᵉ century.

I propose to reconnect with the ancestral transmission interwoven into hand knitting in a contemporary way and bring my creations to the world.

I consider that each piece is the story that the craftsman tells in them, that is why they are unique pieces.

I consider it my greatest challenge that young people preserve their identity by learning these techniques.

My collection, VIDA, presented at Paris Fashion Week in January 2019, consists of pieces made with certified Wildlife Friendly merino wool fibers produced by the "Conscience" program - Sustainable Farmers Cooperative called "Merino Península Valdés" which is part of WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society).
One of Maydi's distinctive features is the use of the best natural fibers in the world: merino, mohair (Zapala, Neuquén), llama (Abra Pampa, Jujuy), wild guanaco fiber (Payun Matru Cooperative).

The most important thing is to always come back to the essence of my company, to the reason for being and to identify the short and long term objectives.

One of my main objectives is to be able to create more jobs, to hire more craftsmen in order to be able to expand the customer portfolio little by little.

To be able to develop, with specialists, the use of the guanaco fiber, to make known to the world all the marvelous properties that this animal has, being 100% attentive to the environment and the fauna.

Sustainable luxury - it is the responsibility of each individual every day to take care of our planet which is our home. I create unique pieces from natural fibers, each one 100% biodegradable and certified, respecting the environment, promoting regional economies and respecting the skills of each person who is part of Maydi.

I consider 1.618 as an agency, a space where MAYDI shares values related to sustainability, fair trade design and fashion.

I believe that belonging to this agency will give MAYDI a greater visibility in France, a country dear to me and to my professional training, as well as the desire to make my project known in Europe in general.

It comes naturally to me, I create with natural fibers in my hands, from them I can imagine and create a design.

For me it is easy to combine responsibility and creativity because Maydi was created with responsibility from day one.