euskalkultura.eus

Their names are Florecia Aristegui and Ayelen Artuch and “Zumaia” is the brand they have created in the south of the Province of Buenos Aires. They are as young as they are active, and they split their time between studies, Basque dance, and crafting.  A big part of their large stock of bracelets, chokers, ankle bracelets and necklaces have Basque names, and can be purchased in Argentina, although they are ready to fill all orders. 

Tres Arroyos, Argentina.   The idea of creating a Brand of accessories came about “almost unexpectedly,” and above all from encouragement of friends and family members who saw the determination and dedication of these two, over many summer afternoons making necklaces for themselves.  With product at hand, and the support from those surrounding them, they had to choose a name, “it was complicated because we wanted something in Basque but original at the same time. After going over long lists of names, and doing some shuffling, we remembered the town of Zumaia that besides being an attractive place with incredible landscapes, we also liked the way the name sounded,” Florencia and Ayelen explained to EuskalKultura.com.

Choosing a basque name was not a casual, and it represents a hallmark of the craftsmanship.  It’s not a coincidence that the two met; in fact they both dance in the Hiru Erreka Basque Club’s dance troupe in Tres Arroyos.  They also have Basque surnames, both are active in the Basque community, and still dance, study Basque and have family and friends in the Basque country that they stay in touch with.

Among the products available, Zumaia offers chokers, ankle bracelets, bracelets and necklaces made of thread, belts, chains, stones, shells and coins, among other things. Many of the items have names like “the bracelet “Bihotza,” the ankle bracelet “Haizea,” or the choker “Isaba,” the latter a nod to the town in Navarre where part of my family is from,” Ayelen says.

For now, “Zumaia” is accepting orders on Instagram, here: Zumaiaaccesorios  and deliveries are made in Tres Arroyos, La Plata and Buenos Aires.  “But if someone in another city, or other place in the Diaspora or the Basque Country is interested, don’t hesitate to contact us because we will look for ways to deliver our products elsewhere,” they said.

There is just under a month until “Buenos Aires Celebrates,” the big Basque gathering in the city of Buenos Aires. When asking Ayelen and Florencia if they are going to display their products there, their response is, “no not this time.  It is a lot of work, and we have to dance there as well so we will be working with our Basque club this time,” they explain.  Seeing the quality of their projects, we are sure that they soon will figure out how to combine activities.