Crafting a Legacy: The Panamanian Family Behind Nido’s Slow Fashion Passion
Since my early childhood in Panama, I have been captivated by the world of fashion. One significant influence on my sense of style was my American mother, whose impeccable fashion choices left a lasting impression on me. The distance and limited contact after my parents’ divorce led to me admiring her amazing fashion sense in pictures throughout the years. Her colorful and bold American style was in contrast to the Spanish dresses we wore in Panama at the time. My own interest in personal style began to take root. My next immersion would be countless hours dreaming over fashion magazines.
Additionally, my nanny, who played a central role in my life, had a profound impact. Living in Rio Hato, she exposed me to the campesina handmade resourcefulness and the embrace of a natural way of life. Spending time at her home allowed me to immerse myself in the local culture and traditions of rural life. It was in this environment that I discovered the joy of sewing and engaging in imaginative play alongside other women.
With her sewing machine as our tool, she would create outfits and hats for me, experimenting with fabrics, colors, and designs that closely resembled the fashion pictures of my mother or the dresses she wore. These sewing sessions became cherished moments, nurturing my creativity and further igniting my passion for fashion, fabrics, and bold prints.
My grandfather’s Sastreria El Corte Ingles, founded in Cuba in the early 1900s before he moved it to Panama, provided me with a unique perspective on the world of slow fashion. The factory, with its rolls of fabric lining the walls and skilled men and women operating sewing machines, fascinated me. My grandfather’s thoughtful gift of buttons became treasures, igniting my imagination as I explored their colors, textures, and sizes, envisioning the endless possibilities they held.
Furthermore, my father’s regular fishing trips to Darien and San Blas exposed me to stacks of vibrant molas, intricate handmade textiles created by the Kuna women. These captivating molas, then traditionally used for pillows with black backgrounds or displayed behind glass, sparked my creativity as I yearned for more imaginative uses for these amazing textile treasures.
Another significant influence on my journey into the fashion business came from my career as a psychotherapist. Before our family suffered political exile and a interruption to my pre adolescence, I spent my formative years in the company of campesinas, experiencing a rustic and natural lifestyle filled with outdoor sports, cooking, gardening, and bonding with the women. This early connection to campesino rural life instilled in me a deep longing to integrate these experiences into my future endeavors. Since I was prematurely displaced from my country and my traditions, I held a deep longing and passion to find a way back to my roots.
Once I successfully launched my adult child into the world, It was time for me to address long seated personal traumas and unresolved events. I discovered a deep need to reconnect with my country of origin and decided to explore living in Panama at middle age. I soon started visiting a cooperative farming project sponsored by a close family ally which reignited my desire to do a field work study. I wanted to create a space that combined my sociological background and love for women’s empowerment in a setting outside of the therapeutic office. Inspired by the coincidence of the women in the farming compound receiving a donation of a few sewing machines, i turned to my first loves and founded Cooperativo El Nido; a cooperative of women sewing, educating, training, gaining trust and learning how to assist them in creating a product that would afford them some economic solvency. The sustainable farm project they lived and worked gave them plenty of limited food products, yet consistent opportunities for income were slim to non existent. This is the predicament that forces people in remote places to travel away from the home for extended periods of time to find work. We set off to give them a virtual product, we started with the Nido Mola Boho Bag, celebrating Panamanian heritage through artistic expression and creativity.
In the journey from my early childhood to where I stand today, fashion has been more than just a fleeting interest; it has become a passion intertwined with my cultural roots and personal experiences. Each thread of influence, from my mother’s style, my nanny’s sewing sessions, and my grandfather’s fabric business to the mesmerizing molas and my longing to integrate campesina experiences, has woven a unique tapestry shaping my outlook on fashion and fueling my strong creative drive.
As I delve into the world of Panamanian local fashion, I carry with me the spirit of resourcefulness, the joy of creativity, and the celebration of cultural heritage. From the Spanish dresses and American influences to the campesina handmade creations and vibrant molas, every element has contributed to my love for bold prints, innovative designs, and the power of self-expression through clothing.
With each design I create, I pay homage to the diverse influences that have shaped me, bridging the gap between tradition and modernity, and showcasing the beauty of Panamanian culture through fashion. Cooperativo El Nido is a testament to the rich heritage that nurtured my passion, where each stitch represents the colorful threads connecting me to my roots, forever inspired by the captivating tapestry of my journey.