When I saw this new brand at Playtime New York, I had an immediate crush. I also enjoyed very much chatting with Jimena Bruguera, founder of the brand, originally from Argentina and currently living in Brooklyn. HBB Industria Argentina perfectly translates the North Argentinian/Andean crafts in a clean and modern way. This is a truly interesting brand and story; globalisation at its best !
Where to find HBB Industria Argentina
HBB Argentina is currently available at Acorn, Boerum hill, Brooklyn, Allegria, Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, Pomme, Dumbo, Brooklyn. The F/W 13 collection will be available in a large number of stores across the US/Canada including Les Petits Chapelais, Soho, NY and Baby Bubble in South Korea.
About HBB Industria Argentina’s collections
Products from the Buenos Aires Collection are hand made in the city of Buenos Aires in Argentina. The knitters are mostly retired Grandmothers treated with immense care and respect. They are superb skilled knitters but also artists whose carrier have been producing wool-knitted wall murals and folk tapestry for years. The yarns they use include Baby Alpaca, Cashmere, Mohair and 100% Wool blends from the North and South of Argentina.
Products from the Folk Seasonal Collection are hand made in an Argentinian small North West village high 2,000 meters above sea level, surrounded by the beautiful colourfull Andean mountains (a beautiful place I have visited last year). The knitters represent the indigenous population that has settled in this village and work together with us and the inhabitants of the Dry Puna Region of the Andean mountains. The Inhabitants of the Andes provide 100% lama or sheep wool to the knitters, who dye it naturally.
Products from the Folk Classic Collection are hand made by indigenous women who are still living in the Dry Puna Region of the Andean Mountains and have very strong ties to their ancient traditions. This collection is the fruit of a very rare and special work process. HBB Argentina meets with them when they are down in the village, to let them know specific needs on on sizes, models, and vision for the line. Then the women go back to the Mountains where they begin their production. They are responsible for the breeding of their sheep and lamas, the collection of the wool, cleaning, brushing, washing, the dyeing when colors are used (dyes are naturally obtained by using vegetables and Åora) and the knitting work, as well as the design/ motif on each piece. Each piece in this collection is unique and cannot be reproduced to match an original.
The Vintage hats are not HBB designs, they are Andean vintage pieces included as part of Andean’s culture, typical from all countries from Argentina to Peru.
About Jimena Bruguera, Founder of HBB Industria Arentina
“I moved to New York in 2000 to work as an architect focusing in preservation of historic buildings. When my daughter was born in 2009 I took a sabbatical year from my job to be able to be with her; it was during this time that I started missing my family in Argentina, especially because we couldn’t enjoy my daughter together and also I started being curious about my roots, my history, motherhood and its meaning. I was born in a little Andean village between Salta and Tucuman in the north west of Argentina, the place where my parents pick me up, and when I was three days old they took me to Buenos Aires where I grew up. My mother used to be a fashion designer with her own clothing line and I grew up within her world and her team, a team that knows me since I was my daughter’s age. I’ve never visited the place I was born until 2011 when I finally went back with my daughter and my mother; it was very emotional, and right there started HBB. I work with a great team of collaborators located in the Puna region, northwest of Argentina, and in Buenos Aires. I’m always excited to travel and meet designers, artists and artisans to collaborate with, Argentina has great talented people that have used their creativeness to survive constant economic crises, and it is very rich in cultural diversity. Buenos Aires has a lot of European influences while the North of the country has strong Indigenous ties.
Florence Rolando
Launched in London in early 2009 by Florence Rolando (journalist, co-founder of Bubble Trade Shows) Pirouette Blog has been a reference in the industry since 2009 with its combined business and consumer view of the children’s market. A fantastic resource for children’s fashion, design, trends and culture, it aims to support creativity and talent but it also does this by talking about life, family, culture and health.
Florence is an international leader in the industry (8 years as a Milk Collaborator, contributor to Naif Magazine in Spain, co-founder of Bubble Trade Shows in New York and London).
Now Florence runs Energy Therapy Porto @enrgy_therapy_porto
Subscribe to Pirouette's monthly Newsletter.
You might also like
March 30, 2023
Pirouette picks: Bootstock, NL
Brands you should know: Bootstock January's wholesale tradeshow season was fantastic for discovering relatively young brands. Due to the pandemic many have not been able to show their collection in…
March 28, 2023
Mini Rodini x FILA launch – interview with founder Cassandra Rhodin
Today on Pirouette I’m talking with ‘the’ pioneer in sustainable and ethical kidswear, founder of Mini Rodini Cassandra Rhodin. Launched in 2006 Cassandra’s colourful designs are loved…
February 16, 2023
The Bright Company to close
It's very sad news to see that The Bright Company have decided to discontinue their label. The Bright Company produced sleepwear that lead the way with their organic cotton & sustainable/ ethical…
February 12, 2023
The Loft Showroom NYC – this weekend!
If you are in New York this weekend make sure to give a visit to The Loft showroom. A great group group of brands have collaborated to host their own wholesale showroom in the Big Apple. There you'll…
October 3, 2022
Pirouette picks: 5 kids’ desks you’ll love
There’s no doubt that if possible it’s well worth your child having their own desk. By having their own desk to learn and play it helps children develop independence, concentration, and…
September 20, 2022
Big Stuffed x The Animals Observatory release their first toy collaboration
Big Stuffed x The Animals Observatory The Animals Observatory recently announced its first capsule collection in collaboration with Paris-based toy brand, BigStuffed. The Animals Observatory x…
August 1, 2022
AW22 Collections Launching – The Animals Observatory
The AW22 collections are launching and first up The Animals Observatory 'La cité de la lumière' AW22 is available through their own website & stockists now. Back in January 2022 when we…
August 1, 2022
It’s Written in the Stars – The New Society FW/AW22 available now
It's Written in the Stars The New Society FW/ AW22 'It's Written in the Stars' was another really strong FW22 collection that caught our attention back in January 2022. Speaking with brand director…
May 27, 2022
Meet the Oli&Carol x Donna Wilson collection!
3 colourful and distinctive designs by Donna Wilson Oli&Carol & Donna Wilson are two of our favourites! Both sets of designer’s attention to detail, creativity and playfulness…