At Las Torres Patagonia, we are proud of our commitment to Chilean culture and traditions; every corner of our hotel is a window into the rich heritage that makes our country unique. Each season, we look for new ways to honor this cultural richness, and today, we want to showcase one of our most recent additions: beautiful placemats created by a family of artisans from the island of Chiloé.
Patricia Catrilef and her mother, María Navarrete, live in Ancud, a city in the Chilean province of Chiloé. The two women launched a start-up that draws on the classic local tradition of weaving vegetable fibers.
The practice, dating back to time immemorial, is an essential part of daily cultural life in Chiloé. Although its roots are much older, the first documented graphic references are drawings by travelers who toured the area shortly after the Republic of Chile annexed Chiloé in 1826.
María Navarrete said she learned the techniques, passed down from generation to generation, in early childhood.
This type of practice reflects the connection between the inhabitants of Chiloé and their natural environment, showcasing the creativity and ingenuity that have characterized this community for centuries.
Like any community whose ability to create products depends on their environment, creativity is limited only by the strength of the vegetable fiber they use. We see these talented artisans making baskets, pots, bread baskets, pencil cases and even bird nests.
Manila, a long-leafed plant that grows near wetlands, is crucial here. Its leaves are removed, dried and cut, then made into strands of different sizes for use in traditional crafts. The process is very similar to what artisans in northern Chile do with pita fibers.
In 2008, María Navarrete put her manila skills to work and started her own business. Shortly thereafter, her daughter Patricia joined her and began helping fill orders from all over Chile.
María braids and sews using quila and boqui fibers. Her upscale creations draw attention at the handicraft fairs in Chiloé; some designs are exclusively available from her inventory.
After seeing their work, Las Torres Patagonia commissioned placemats and bread baskets for the hotel's restaurant, bringing the Chiloé tradition to Patagonia.
To learn more about the different Chilean traditions and soak up Patagonian culture, come stay with us while discovering Torres del Paine National Park.