A
ccidente con flores... behind this poetic name lies two artists, Ola and Adrian, who are guided by uncompromising ethics and aesthetics. Imagine a distinctive brand of sustainable clothing, made entirely in Mallorca and sold through social media all over the world, from Canada and Japan to Europe, the United States, and China. A brand that operates without collections or fashion shows and controls every stage of production. Passionate about craftsmanship, Ola and Adrian have surrounded themselves on the island with a network of women who knit, embroider, and make lace to adorn shirts and vests.
In late January, I met with Ola and Adrian at their home studio located at the entrance to the village of Sencelles. Nothing about their home is ordinary. Ola tells me that the house is 300 years old and was once a weekend retreat for monks who wanted to take a break from community life at the monastery. They would work the land and tend to the vineyards. To enter, you have to push open a wooden door in the high wall surrounding the property, climb a few steps, and walk under a pergola framed by orange and lemon trees before arriving at the cottage. Closed off from the world to protect contemplation, the house remains largely oriented towards the horizon, illustrating the monks' need to live away from prying eyes while contemplating the beauty of nature.
With a scarf on her head, beige canvas pants, and a loose indigo shirt under a sleeveless felted wool vest marked ACF, Ola bustles about, adding wood to the stove. Her instantly recognizable silhouette embodies the brand's style. Everything in the house exudes a simple, refined lifestyle; every object has a story. Hanging on the walls are palm-woven suns by Antic Mallorca, which works with a community of women in the north of the island to keep this dying craft alive. Long before them, Joan Miró, a fervent admirer of folk art, had hung a wicker sun bought at a market in his studio. Today, Ola and Adri are following in his footsteps. Made entirely by hand, these suns are never identical; each one has its own uniqueness, that little irregularity that gives it its charm. They have become part of ACF's identity. In fact, it is the face hidden behind these woven stars that Ola and Adri featured on the cover of Milk magazine.
