Bronze Jewelry Design · 2022
Raices Sustainable Jewelry
- A' Design Award 2022 Bronze Winner in Jewelry Design
- Awarded April 15, 2022
- CLIENT: Maison Domecq
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 17,312
- Verification code F02A202E75 · Verify this award
About Raices Sustainable Jewelry
The design of the Raices line emerges from the need to reuse thousands of oval cuts of new leather from a safety boot factory, discarded daily for having no utility. To reuse them, the designer focused on the search for techniques that would allow to find their greatest beauty and functionality, finding inspiration in the wings of birds, the scaled, staggered and overlapping. In order to expand the color palette, it was also decided to reuse leathers from other companies.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The design of the Raices line was conceived from a sustainable point of view, through the reuse of the oval left over from the Ombu safety boots.
The goal: the generation of unique pieces through craftsmanship, maximizing its use and the ability to generate different patterns from color changes.
We sought to minimize the reading of the difference between the ovals.
The staggering allowed to minimize the differences and to take the thicknesses as a fundamental part in the generation of value and also to generate rigidity, greater solidity to the proposed pieces. - Dimensions & Packaging
- dimensions depending on the piece
Hoops 75 x 85mm
Bracelet 255 x 70mm
Necklace 400 x 65mm
Headband 135 x 65 mm
Packaging 200 x 150 cm - Tags
- sustainability, leatherjewelry, sustainablejewelry, ecofriendly, sustainable, slowfashion, zerowaist
- Production Technology
- The elaboration of this entire collection is done manually, reusing small leather ovals left over from Ombu safety boots, as well as small remnants from different local leather goods companies.
It is done by hand cutting and gluing, as can be seen in the video and in some cases the incorporation of studs or rivets that add light and reinforce its character. - Design Challenge
- It is always a challenge to work from a given shape. The work concentrates on finding its beauty and functionality. Finding the latent message of these materials, their proportion and then, the design.
The boots are made in black, brown and white. This color limitation, led us to take as an opportunity the use of small scraps from other companies, thus expanding the palette and the saleability of the pieces.
Integrating the concept of corporate social responsibility and rescue of crafts. - Project Duration
- This process of recovering materials began in 2012, incorporating new pieces and new colors year after year. Different pieces of this collection have been exhibited at the Fairs: Expocomer Panama 2014 Maison et Objet 2014-2015-2016-2017 They have been sold to the SF MOMA, Japan and France until today
- Operation Flow
- This object is easy to access, easy to use and does not require help to handle it. Although this material requires certain care: do not wet, do not use alcohol and take care of it with bitumen or wax to increase its durability.
- Research
- This line emerged in response to the need to reuse small scraps of discarded leather, for which its development was limited to direct experimentation.
Technique used: scaling, a resource that can be assimilated to the natural structures already known, minimizing the differences in size between the ovals and, in turn, taking the thicknesses as a fundamental part of the generation of value.
The objective: the generation of unique, handcrafted and durable pieces. Making the most of scraps. Expand the offer of the same piece through changes in the possible patterns by means of color changes. - Inspiration
- The inspiration for this line comes from the scales on the wings of birds. That overlapping that gains character with changes in color and depth. It was the technology of the use of a certain raw material, the leftover ovals from the manufacture of boots, which led us to look for the latent language in this material and its possible uses for the formal generation. The colors would appear later when this resource allowed us to recover very small scraps of leather from other companies.
- Image Credits
- Image No 1 PH Maru Somoza
Image No 2 PH Francisco Sexauer / prod model Mercedes Garcia Di Mare
Image No 3 PH Mayte Ossorio Domecq
Image No 4 PH Francisco Sexauer / prod model Mercedes Garcia Di Mare - Patents
- no yet
Colors of Raices Sustainable Jewelry
Grand Interview about Raices Sustainable Jewelry
My perspective on reuse was shaped during over five years of collaboration with sculptor Julio Pérez Sanz, a master in the art of giving new meaning to materials. That experience sharpened my ability to see pre-existing forms as expressive resources. Later, I was commissioned by companies to revitalize their brand identity through the reuse of discarded pieces, reducing waste and creating new narratives.This approach is not only technical, but also a way of life—one rooted in valuing the object, overcoming prejudice against what is discarded, and seeking beauty in what remains.
Material experimentation is always the starting point of my process. In this case, the oval leather remnants—slightly different in size and density depending on their source—required in-depth exploration. Guided by a core belief that "geometry is to nature what grammar is to writing," I aimed to create structures that balanced organic fluidity with enough structure to be worn comfortably.The result was a system of layered, feather-like forms that evoke flight, vitality, and freedom. It was both an aesthetic and symbolic choice, making the design a bridge between nature and the human body.
No two pieces are alike—just as no two ovals are exactly the same. The manual processes of cutting and bonding are not just methods; they are the essence of the design. The irregularity of the material, its textures and history, demand a unique, thoughtful approach to each piece.This handcrafted nature makes mass production impossible and turns variation into a virtue, resistance into value, and usability into a design statement.
Argentina is internationally recognized for its leather industry, but it also generates high volumes of waste—up to 20% in some cases. Collaborating with local companies allowed me to build a circular economy network, transforming industrial leftovers into meaningful, handcrafted jewelry.The inclusion of diverse leather sources also expanded the color palette, increasing user identification and the opportunity for personalization in daily life.
Each type of leather, and each company, has its own properties, color palette, and target user. This diversity required deep study of the material’s characteristics—density, flexibility, and manipulability—to ensure structural stability, comfort, and durability.The challenge was to understand and work with these differences while maintaining both beauty and function in each piece.
Mayté Domecq’s pieces stand out for their strong visual language, evident handcrafted volume, and the ability to blend classic aesthetics with contemporary spirit. That combination makes them wearable in everyday life without losing elegance.Each piece tells a story—of craftsmanship, time, and the luxury of conscious making.
From the beginning, Raices was deeply influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, which merges ethics, aesthetics, and creative freedom. This ideology shaped both the brand and its development.Today, more than a decade later, I remain convinced that sustainable luxury lies in conscious design—working with what already exists, guided by intention and care.
In design, proportion is always intentional. My background in industrial design, along with a close connection to art, taught me to view every millimeter as part of a visual and functional composition. Each piece is made to inhabit the body, to dialogue with it, and to stand out without overwhelming.Visual impact arises from the balance between scale, proportion, and expressive intent. Comfort comes from respecting the body as a territory.
It has shown that waste is not an end, but a beginning. That material transformation is also symbolic transformation.Raices has inspired many designers and entrepreneurs to rethink how we value leftovers—demonstrating that waste can become the origin of beauty, and that ethical practices can fuel creativity.
Raices shows that it’s possible to unite luxury and sustainability without sacrificing beauty or desirability. Today, the industry is increasingly aware of how design enables better use of materials.True luxury lies in handcrafting, in the time dedicated to each piece, in proportion, and in the pursuit of beauty through experimentation.