Murcia’s sustainable craftsmanship: jute, tradition and future
Caravaca de la Cruz, a charming town located in the region of Murcia, in north- western Spain, hosted the Youte festival, a fair dedicated to jute footwear and accessories in June, 8th-11th,2022. The event saw the participation of several local companies, mostly family-run, proud of an artisan tradition handed down over the centuries from father to son, thanks to which today they are also recognized internationally.
Why Youte Festival? In addition to being a direct encounter with local producers, Youte lets us explore the millenary tradition, the know-how of robust hands that transform jute from a natural, resistant and rough fiber to an increasingly refined, intertwined, tame fiber. Jute appeared in the form of soles for canvas shoes, now universally known as espadrilles (ed in Spanish alpargatas, from alparga or esparto, the plant provided with long and rigid leaves from which extracts a strong fiber used to produce ropes) at the beginning of the 1900s.
The event was unique, conveying a message of sustainability, circular economy and craftsmanship of a 100% natural quality product to be preserved; it represents good practices and values carried out with great enthusiasm and commitment by those who have supported and organized the Youte for six years, such as Calzia, the association that supports the region’s footwear and accessories department, and various local institutions including the Institute of Regional Development of Murcia and the municipality of Caravaca.
Furthermore, Youte is a mix of tradition and technology, handmade and virtual reality that offers exciting frames: you can make visits inside the production forges to touch materials, observe, admire processing, but also be spectator of a virtual and immersive experience through the most innovative software. Visitors can take advantage of a storytelling that, through unique archive images, reconstructs the stages of a Made in Spain full of pride.
This all communicates how espadrilles have crossed the ages and fashion trends with an everlasting charm that keeps them very actual season after season, as we can see in many international catwalks.
Among the various brands at the Youte festival, we point out CALZADOS PICÒN, whose espadrilles are even in the wishlist of Queen Letizia, KANNA SHOES, a virtuous company focusing on a new totally green line, CASTELLER ESPAÑA characterized by a sophisticated design addressed to the espadrilles addicted, ROCAI and its accessories vitamin colors and, in conclusion, the very precious hats by MONTESINOS VILAR.
YOUTE
www.youte.es
calzadospicon.com
www.kannashoes.com/en
casteller.es/gb
www.montesinosvilar.com
