THE COLORS OF THE EARTH
When golden and ochre leaves were still falling in Alicante, marking the autumn season, Verónica embarked on a journey in search of a new technique that required a deeper connection with nature and its primal colors. Leaving behind this drizzly landscape, she immersed herself in another one—vibrant, warm, and full of colors—none other than Bogor, Indonesia.
Nestled in the province of West Java, the city welcomed her with its lush vegetation and infinite natural palette. There, among petals and ancient plants, she discovered the art of botanical printing, also known as Ecoprint. This ancestral technique allows the transfer of natural pigments from leaves, flowers, and bark onto noble fabrics such as silk, cotton, wool, or bamboo.
Under the guidance of her mentor in Bogor, Masrur, Indonesia’s national Ecoprint champion and leader of the ARAE community, Verónica was able to develop this art. Together, they prepared the silk, carefully placing each flower and plant onto the damp fabric, rolling it up, and then subjecting it to steam baths. It was in that precise moment—when the material changed the light it reflected and the pigments soaked into the fabrics—that they could witness the unpredictable results of this technique, creating unique garments that celebrate the beauty of imperfection.
In each print, in every dyed fiber, lay the essence of the jungle’s depths, its plants, and flowers: the marigolds, with their characteristic golden yellow; the Digitaria, with its intense earthy red evoking Indonesian sunsets; the Maesopsis Eminii, offering a spectacular mustard hue; or the Coriadeum Variegatum, bursting with a play of vibrant colors, infusing the silk with its untamed essence and bringing these one-of-a-kind pieces to life.
While experimenting with the technique, Verónica discovered that using acidic plants in combination with base pigments transformed the colors in unexpected ways, creating unique effects, as if nature itself were guiding the design.
She embarked on this journey with the ARAE community, whom she chose for their philosophy of life, their way of seeing the world, and their values, which resonated deeply with her own. Verónica welcomed her warmly and nurtured her within the heart of her home, where she formed unbreakable bonds of brotherhood, rooted in a love for the earth and humanity. This made the journey the greatest experience of her life.
In each print, in every dyed fiber, the essence of nature was present. Through Ecoprint, Verónica not only absorbed the knowledge of an ancestral technique but also understood the value of patience, experimentation, and the magic that resides in the organic. She returned from Indonesia with her hands stained by nature and the certainty that fashion and art will always be a bridge between the human and the earthly.
-Written by Belén Giménez Rodríguez