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Álvaro M. Leiro

Álvaro M. Leiro Basketweaver
Contact
Spanish
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+34 699488641
©All rights reserved

From staw to leather

  • • Álvaro has a passion for traditional crafts
  • • He reinvented the basketry technique
  • • Nostalgia inspires his work

Álvaro Martinez Leiro started basket weaving with a simple spiral basketry course. He became hooked, and began to research the technique to the point of questioning the entire creation process which he found too slow. Over the years, he has managed to create his own technique, optimising all the steps and materials and making it much more effective. Álvaro wishes to ensure traditional crafts thrive, to keep alive skills that are a part of our human identities, especially those that are at risk of disappearing. “We don’t know where we are going, but we know where we come from," he says. Álvaro has come a long way from creating at home for pleasure to collaborating with Loewe and seeing his products on a giant screen in Milan.

Read the full interview

Works

  • ©Courtesy of the Fundación Pública Artesanía de Galicia
  • ©Courtesy of the Fundación Pública Artesanía de Galicia
  • ©Courtesy of the Fundación Pública Artesanía de Galicia
  • ©Courtesy of the Fundación Pública Artesanía de Galicia
  • ©Courtesy of the Fundación Pública Artesanía de Galicia
Photo: ©Courtesy of the Fundación Pública Artesanía de Galicia
Coroza

Traditional garment from Galicia in the north of Portugal from the lowlands of Limia and the mountains of Xures. It is made up of Faldón and Carapucheira wings. It requires 60 hours of work to make.

Photo: ©Courtesy of the Fundación Pública Artesanía de Galicia
Fringes Bucket

This striking leather bucket bag with fringe detailing is made with calfskin. Basket weaver Álvaro Martinez Leiro reinterprets traditional techniques to make his handwoven creations.

Width 16.5 cm
Height 23 cm
Depth 16.5 cm

Photo: ©Courtesy of the Fundación Pública Artesanía de Galicia
Sancosmeiro hat

Sancosmeiro hats are traditionally from the area of Outes and Mazaricos. Álvaro Martinez Leiro handmade this one with selected rye straw, a cotton lining and a chin strap.

Diameter 41 cm

Photo: ©Courtesy of the Fundación Pública Artesanía de Galicia
Amphora

This piece handwoven by Álvaro Martinez Leiro is inspired by an ancient amphora. The basket weaver made it using the spiral stitching technique, it took him 30 hours to handcraft the piece.

Photo: ©Courtesy of the Fundación Pública Artesanía de Galicia
Prototype of bucket bag

This prototype for a leather bucket bag with fringe detailing is made with calfskin. Basket weaver Álvaro Martinez Leiro reinterprets traditional techniques to make his handwoven creations.

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