Aurelia x Romualda: A Dialogue of Tradition, Craftsmanship, and Creativity

Aurelia Mexico is a design studio that celebrates Mexican heritage through a contemporary lens. Founded by three sisters, the brand blends craftsmanship, tradition, and innovation to create unique, timeless pieces. Inspired by the rich iconography of charrería and artisanal techniques, Aurelia reinterprets classic elements with a modern, feminine touch. Their creations range from handcrafted accessories to home decor, all infused with a deep respect for local artisans and materials.

For this collaboration, we have brought charrería to life through our iconic hats, incorporating its traditional motifs and craftsmanship into each design. By blending Aurelia’s heritage with Romualda’s artistic vision, we have created pieces that honour tradition while embracing a fresh, contemporary perspective.

How has your summer experience in Asturias influenced your vision of design and craftsmanship?

Our summers in Navia, the small town in Asturias where our great-grandmother Aurelia lived, left an indelible mark on our creative vision. Our “Bisa” would involve us in handicrafts, such as weaving supermarket plastic bags to turn them into baskets or beach bags. Those afternoons spent weaving from the viewpoint or by the sea taught us to value handmade work, to explore our imagination, and to see the potential of repurposed materials in creating something unique. Those summers meant freedom, play, and enjoyment—values that remain essential to our brand today.

What cultural similarities do you find between Asturias and Mexico, and how have you reflected them in this collaboration?

Cultural similarities include the value placed on tradition, family, festivities, music, dance, and collective celebrations in villages. There is also a strong connection to the land, with abundant landscapes and vibrant colours.

What has the creative process been like working with Romualda? What aspects of this collaboration have surprised you?

We were thrilled by the experience of collaborating with the Romualda sisters and getting a glimpse into their universe, especially Cris’s imagination through her talent and brushstrokes. Conceptualising the hats was a wonderful journey—from the border design workshop we organised in their Madrid studio to the inspiration archive sessions, where we discovered the common threads that excited us. It was fascinating to see how the hats came together, from concept to painting, becoming living canvases, and finally through the assembly of the patterns, transforming into objects imbued with stories.

What role has the tradition of charrería played in the design of the hats?

At Aurelia, we live and breathe charrería daily—not only in the materials we use in our designs and objects but also in the collaborations we undertake. For this particular collaboration, we were excited to highlight elements of charro iconography, such as Grecian patterns, animal figures, and flowers, blending everything together to achieve that richly baroque aesthetic so characteristic of charrería.

Were there specific elements of charrería that you wanted to highlight or reinterpret in this collection?

We wanted to highlight and reinterpret different Grecian patterns, flowers, rope textures, and animals such as the horse and the snake—elements commonly found in charrería. However, by translating them into painting and taking advantage of the fabric’s flexibility, we were able to soften them, giving them a more feminine character that aligns with Aurelia’s essence.

As three sisters working together, how do you influence each other in creative decision-making?

Since we started in 2017, our roles and dynamics have evolved constantly. This transformation has been key to our brand’s creativity and growth. Although each of us brings something unique to the table, we always find balance through our shared vision of Aurelia’s universe.

Do you think the fact that Romualda is also run by sisters has created a special connection between both brands?

Absolutely. We loved the brand from the moment we discovered it, but when we found out it was led by sisters, we felt even more excited—especially because of our connection to Asturias and the fact that both our brands are named after women we admired in our childhood.

What aspects of Aurelia’s essence are reflected in this collaboration?

Our essence is reflected in the creation of unique, timeless objects that celebrate the value of handmade craftsmanship. This collaboration is a tribute to artisanal work and the beauty of merging two creative worlds into a single piece.

Charrería has a rich artisanal heritage. How have you approached this tradition from a contemporary perspective?

We grew up in Guadalajara, Jalisco, surrounded by the tradition of charrería, from charro arenas to charro men and their horses. Our aim was to reinterpret this heritage while respecting ancestral techniques and collaborating with specialised artisans. We explored combinations that highlighted intricate details and sophistication, integrating a feminine perspective that makes the charro universe more accessible through contemporary and functional pieces.