The journey of Inés Rodríguez, the artisan designer at the heart of the RIR&Co workshop (Allariz), is a clear example of how design and craftsmanship come together in the quest for innovation. Research into new materials, a commitment to sustainability and a dedication to rural areas are key to her project.

She left her job as a civil servant to start a craft business. What motivated you to take this step?

There were several reasons: on the one hand, the desire I had always had to work in a creative or artistic profession, which never left me, even though I passed a competitive exam at a very young age, which led me to work for the Government and become a civil servant very early on, at the age of 19. On the other hand, I was involved in a car crash on my way to work, which made me rethink my life, my children and the need for a better work-life balance (there was no such thing as teleworking ten years ago), and I completed the training in artistic crafts that I had started during my leave.

What are the hallmarks of the products made in your Allariz workshop?

The official seals we have are those of Artesanía de Galicia (Galician Crafts) and also the international seal of Master Craftsmanship of the HomoFaber Guide, awarded by the Michelangelo Foundation. Our products have also won various awards for innovation and sustainability, as well as for the quality of their materials and their inspiration from nature and Galician culture. In addition to combining the most traditional techniques of weaving with innovation in materials and design.

It combines high quality production with tireless research, using highly innovative materials that are already part of the Materioteca de Galicia, among them fibre optics. What inspires your creative process?

This is another of the seals we have: the innovation recognised by the Galician Innovation Agency with the Innovative Materials Award in 2021 and the inclusion of two materials in the Materioteca, being one of the first artisans to also have an industrial product registration at the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) with the fibre optic fabric. The inspiration for the process of creating a design is based on previous research, in order to offer a solution, in the case of an innovative fabric, that brings some improvement to people or to carry out a proposal that makes a difference in the sector.

Doing things differently. In my imagination there is always our culture, the nature that surrounds me because I live in the countryside and from there I take shapes, textures and colours to transfer them to my designs and work. Tradition is also very important: symbols, shapes, fabrics that I research to recover techniques, but also to pass them on to the new generations through our products. In the most artistic fabrics, the combination of all these elements is intended to reflect the people who look at them or relate to them, as is the case with the Ardora collection, inspired by a maritime phenomenon typical of our coasts. Water is always very present in my work, as it is in our culture.

One of your most emblematic collections is D-Leite. How did this project come about and which products do you use it in?

It is certainly one of our most recognised collections and one that makes RIR&Co Textile Studio stand out in the world of craftsmanship and design. This project was created from the need to show that new fibres and new designs can be made from natural materials found in waste, such as milk that is not fit for human consumption. After many hours and even years of research, I found the milk protein fibre from which it was made and decided to make a product to show that it was possible for a small company like mine to innovate. And that’s how it happened. This milk protein baby blanket, also knitted with Spanish merino wool, incorporates two products that are not widely used in our country today, but which have great potential.

In addition to being hypoallergenic and biodegradable, it combines two of our brand values: it benefits people and the environment. We look for products that make people feel good, and in this case, it promotes positive memories for babies of their upbringing and breastfeeding. At the same time, the materials used are natural and environmentally friendly. Add to this a fair working process, local production and limited edition, and you have an innovative and sustainable product.

What does the Artesanía de Galicia (Galician Crafts) seal bring to your brand?

For me, being part of Artesanía de Galicia (Galician Crafts) gives me the opportunity to receive training and information about the sector and to promote my work in different forums, showing a distinctive, quality and contemporary craftsmanship.