Alium Boutique  opened in Garzon (Uruguay) in 2008 by Carolyn Prevett (textile designer) and Mariano Piñeyrúa (industrial designer), founders of  Alium Design Studio. Both students of the Centro de Diseño Industrial (CDI) Montevideo, Carolyn and Mariano play with the aesthetics of the peaceful village. Respecting the materials and techniques of craftsmen, Alium develops unique and original products (men, women, children) that reflect the essence of Uruguayan people and trades, some of which have ceased to exist. It was totally unexpected to find such a creative store such a little village (2000 habitants), and the element of surprise added a lot of pleasure to the visit…

Favourite places / addresses in Uruguay

– Hotel  La Perla del Cabo (laperladelcabo.com). Cabo Polonio (right on the beach)

– Restaurant Lo de Dani, Cabo Polonio (simple, homemade food. Nice wooden tables and chairs, lovely ambiance at night with candles everywhere)

– Hotel Posada Arenas (posadarenasdejoseignacio.com.uy), Jose Ignacio (very good value for money – friendly team)

– Restaurant Marissmo, Jose Ignacio (Delicious food, wonderful set up in the forest with big bond fire)

– Restaurant La Huella, Jose Ignacio (On the beach…hip and tasty)

– Hotel  Garzon  (restaurantegarzon.com). Garzon (quiet luxury – precious!)

– Restaurant Hotel Garzon (Chef Francis Mallmann), Garzon  (sophisticated – very inspiring place)

– Hotel Casa Zinc (casazinc.com), la Barra (beautiful)

–  Colonia Suites (coloniasuite.com). Colonia del Sacramento (family friendly – practical and very affordable)