All images (c) Maydi.

Maria Abdala Zolezzi ("Maydi") is the creator of a contemporary and sustainable knitwear brand based in Buenos Aires, named Maydi, after her nickname. Maydi the brand sells handmade garments and blankets constructed from natural fibres and organic yarns. Merging contemporary aesthetics with a focus on sustainability, these timeless garments, made using hand-knitting, manual weaving-loom and crochet techniques, are created with an artisanal dedication and unwavering attention to detail.

Born in Argentina, Maydi is a design graduate from the London College of Fashion. She worked for more than twelve years in the fashion industry in Paris and Milan, in marketing and development of international markets for brands like Band of Outsiders, Golden Goose Deluxe Brand, Sonia Rykiel and Isabel Marant among others. She returned to Argentina to found Maydi, a project that allows her to express her commitment to sustainability, art and fashion.

Maydi based her company on fair trade principles. Her designs are developed and produced in collaboration with local Argentine artisans, assuring them fair remuneration and respect for the legacy of their craft and art. Maydi selects local materials such as yarns from merino sheep, baby llama, baby alpaca, mohair, cotton and silk straw. Argentine organic merino ‘grass certified’ is comparable with precious fibres such as cashmere and alpaca for its smoothness, shine, and softness, and stands out among the main materials used in the collection. Maydi works with Merino wools that are backed by a production process which takes care of the environment, the well-being of animals and the development of individuals and organizations involved in the entire value chain. Her designs use mostly neutral natural colours with some accents achieved with natural dyes obtained from native plants such as Tara, Palo Amarillo, Guayacán, Quebracho, and Cochineal. Watch Maydi's artisans at work:

Maydi curated a selection garments and throws to bring to the Selvedge World Fair. Visit her artisan store to buy from the collection.