With the support of WCS Argentina, a group of students from the Escuela Taller Laura Vicuña from Junín de los Andes had the unique experience of participating in professional internships alongside renowned textile designers who promote the sustainable use of natural fibers from Patagonia.
Education is a fundamental aspect of any nature conservation project that seeks to have a real and long-term impact on the environment and the community. With this goal in mind, since early 2025 and in collaboration with WCS Argentina, the Laura Vicuña Workshop School has incorporated an annual course into its curriculum called “Sustainability in the Textile Industry.” The course is taught to students in their final year of high school and includes the possibility of a professional internship with internationally renowned designers.
This school, one of the few textile technical schools in the country, is a privately managed public institution in Patagonia, Argentina, focused on clothing and textile manufacturing. Located in the town of Junín de los Andes, in the province of Neuquén, it welcomes more than 200 students, many from rural areas. In the new sustainability course, students learn about livestock management and its relationship with wildlife and the environment, the production of natural fibers, their social and environmental impact, and other topics that span the entire fiber value chain, from the field to the shop window.
In Patagonia, WCS Argentina works with natural fiber producers to promote regenerative and wildlife-friendly methodologies that help mitigate conflict between production and native wildlife, driving the economic development of rural communities in harmony with the environment. Within this initiative, the idea arose to add educational activities such as those developed at the Escuela Taller Laura Vicuña, which seek to raise awareness among young people and encourage them to think about a sustainable future that offers better opportunities.
As part of their learning experience, in August a group of five 5th and 6th grade students from the school had the opportunity to travel to Buenos Aires with a teacher to spend a week participating in activities at the ateliers of textile designers who use Wildlife Friendly™ certified fibers: María Zolezzi (Maydi) and Alejandra Gottelli (Cubreme). During the trip, the students learned about sustainable materials, design, communication, marketing, and collection presentation through activities at the designers’ studios, as well as cultural tours of the city.
Maydi and the origin of this experience
The connection between the designer and the school began in May 2024, when María traveled to Patagonia to meet the producers of merino wool and mohair from Neuquén, and to visit that particular school in Junín de los Andes. Those were days filled with excitement and the exchange of knowledge and experiences.
“The visit to the school was an opportunity to share knowledge and see how they implement a quality educational program for their students. At one point, I remember thinking, ‘How nice it must be to study here.’ It has such an interesting artistic imprint, an incredible textile workshop, the laboratory work proposals, and the dedication of the teachers. Those were very exciting days,” says María about that week in May. “During the talks and exchanges, I sensed a lot of curiosity from the students, and I thought that since they had welcomed me so warmly, I could welcome them to my studio so they could experience textile design in a working environment, in my day-to-day life,” she added.
María Zolezzi during a talk at the Escuela Taller Laura Vicuña (left) and meeting Isabel Quilaqueo, a Wildlife Friendly certified merino and mohair producer. Credit: Ezequiel Infantino – WCS Argentina.
María’s proposal was taken up by the school and WCS Argentina, and they began to evaluate possible strategies for organizing a study trip for five students. With the support of the Milkywire organization and intense teamwork, the trip was planned, and a call was made to all students in their last two years of school who were interested in participating in the internship.
“I found Maydi’s proposal really interesting because of its focus on textile design and its relationship with sustainability. WCS Argentina and Maydi captivated me with a new perspective on fashion, and I was really excited about the idea of being part of this project,” said Tatiana Joubert, a fifth-year student, about the call for proposals.
Another participant in this experience, Milagros Cañuqueo, also felt that she did not want to miss this opportunity: “Since I was a child, I have been interested in fibers and clothing manufacturing. I grew up in an environment closely linked to this field, as my maternal family was involved in selling handicrafts because it was my grandmother’s livelihood. From an early age, I was able to appreciate how my aunts and grandmother were in charge of spinning and selling their wool, or how they made garments on a loom, whether belts, ponchos, or knitted items such as socks, sweaters, and jackets. At the same time, something I greatly admire is the process of raising livestock, which is what my paternal family does. It is a job to which producers devote a large part of their time and effort, and which is often not valued and is gradually being lost”.
Zolezzi awaited them in Buenos Aires with a busy schedule of experiences and learning opportunities but also left time for relaxed conversations over mate and chipá bread. From creativity and inspiration sessions to a fashion photography workshop, and even choosing different fibers and knitting techniques, the week was packed with information that the students are still processing today, several weeks later.
“One of the things that impressed me most was learning about the creative process, seeing how she draws inspiration from external influences such as art exhibitions, designers who have left their mark on the fashion industry, books, magazines, films, travel. And how she uses that to imagine and communicate the design she has in mind to her team. Another thing that really struck me was the versatility of her garments and the attention she pays to every detail; it’s simply amazing,” recalls Tatiana.
The internship activities covered the entire textile production chain, from the search for inspiration and selection of fibers to the presentation of the final product. Credit: Virginia Gamarra.
Some of the experiences also took place outside María’s studio, such as visits to museums, bookstores, galleries, and even traveling on the subway. New experiences are always transformative, and Virginia Gamarra, the teacher in charge of accompanying the students on this internship, puts it this way: “This opportunity allowed our students to leave Junín de los Andes and get to know a space as big and full of cultural activities as Buenos Aires. Being able to experience a reality totally different from their everyday lives seems fundamental to their personal growth, not only to know that there is a world outside their town, with other opportunities, but also to be able to appreciate everything that Junín has to offer, what they received from their space, their people, and their school. Sometimes all those things are seen better, they shine, when you step back a little and see your own education from another perspective.
Cubreme and the art of coexistence
The visit to the studio of designer Alejandra Gottelli, owner of Cubreme, was another highlight of the trip. There, the students were able to hear about the experience of an artist who made sustainable textile design a philosophy of life.
“The meeting with the girls was very inspiring, because I could see their enthusiasm for their region and the identity of their origins. I also see a lot of scope for interaction with various creative disciplines, where the school clearly plays a fundamental role in training and belonging“ said Alejandra about the meeting. ”I was fascinated by the visit to Alejandra’s workshop,“ said Tatiana, ”I was very impressed by the contrast in styles between María and Alejandra because, although they have similar approaches, each has a unique way of working with fibers. I loved that she shares her space with an art gallery; it’s a very spacious and creative space. What resonated most with me from the visit to her workshop was the importance of caring for nature and cooperativeness. She encouraged us to leave excessive consumism behind, inviting us to abandon the concept of having = being. Alejandra told us her story and left us with very important messages that I will treasure for many years to come.”
The art gallery served as the space for the exhibition “Between Fibers and Wildlife, the Art of Coexistence” in October 2024. Promoted by WCS Argentina together with the Regenerative Fund for Nature and the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network, with the support of Cubreme, Maydi, and Eukanuba, the exhibition brought together a series of artistic pieces, photographs, and textiles inspired by the search for coexistence between livestock activities and native species in Argentine Patagonia.
Alejandra Gottelli, minimalism and environmental awareness. Credit: Cubreme Textiles.
Teaching, learning, and creating the future.
Teaching is a two-way experience; the educational process is not a one-way transmission of knowledge from teacher to student, but rather a reciprocal and dynamic exchange in which both parties, the educator and the learner, learn and transform themselves.
This is how María felt: “From this experience, I personally take away the desire to continue sharing my knowledge in order to inspire the desire to be entrepreneurial and encourage new generations to pursue their dreams. Professionally, I feel that the group was extraordinary. In each of them, I saw and felt the creative potential and curiosity to learn and know more. Virginia, the teacher, was a crucial link in accompanying the process. I was very impressed with their theoretical and practical knowledge of all aspects of textile art. During the activities, they demonstrated their talent, each in her own way, and everything they have absorbed from this fantastic school that has shaped them. I think they have a great future ahead of them in whatever they choose to do.”
Collaboration with educational institutions on this type of project provides a formal framework and a long-term approach that is essential for maximizing impact, both on students and on the community.
For Jorgelina Marco, director of the Escuela Taller Laura Vicuña, “the experience the students had was an invaluable opportunity to put the knowledge they acquired at school into practice and, above all, to recognize how they can position themselves in the future. By meeting designers who represent Argentina and have a global reach, they were able to visualize their own potential, and the possibilities open to them in the job market and in their professional careers. I hope that this opportunity will multiply for every teenager who passes through our institution and that it will contribute both to their personal development and to the sustainable growth of our region.”
“With this project, we want students to develop a holistic view of the textile industry, with a sustainable and wildlife friendly approach. We believe that this innovative integration of design, production, and their relationship with a healthy environment should be considered the backbone of the entire textile value chain,” says Ezequiel Infantino, professor and certification and value chains coordinator at WCS Argentina.