The Copahue and the Lihuen define Maydi’s aesthetic. The $700 “slow luxury” turtleneck sweater features an Aran stitch, batwing sleeves, and ribbed finishes, all crafted in Argentina from ultra-soft 18-micron Patagonian Merino wool. The $755 Lihuen jacket follows suit, sculpted in 17-micron Merino with a spread collar, gently puffed sleeves, and gleaming pearl buttons. Both pieces celebrate the southern edge of South America.
Regenerative and wildlife-friendly certified Merino wool sits at the heart of the brand. This approach supports responsible grazing and encourages harmony between sheep farmers and native wildlife.
Inside its Buenos Aires atelier, Maydi embraces the natural palette of Patagonian camelid fibers. Neutral hues reign, while subtle accents emerge from botanical dyes drawn from native plants—Tara, Palo Amarillo, Guayacán, Quebracho, and Cochineal among them. “Patagonian fibers with a conscience” isn’t just a phrase here; it’s a promise.
Maydi founder and creative director Maria Abdala Zolezzi remembers the motivation behind her pioneering vision. “When I created the brand in 2013, fair trade wasn’t a mainstream conversation. I wanted to champion handmade craftsmanship using local labor to strengthen regional economies. I became the first Argentinian designer to obtain the Wildlife Friendly certification, ensuring full traceability for the Valdés Peninsula Merino wool we use.”
Her Franco-Argentine heritage informs every stitch. She smiles when recalling her nickname—Maydi—taken from a childhood storybook character. Even then, she designed dresses for her dolls, a spark that would eventually shape her career.
After studying advertising in Buenos Aires, Maria refined her craft at the London College of Fashion. Twelve formative years in Paris followed, collaborating with influential visionaries including Kuki de Salvertes and the team at Totem, who helped launch Raf Simons and Haider Ackermann, alongside houses such as Sonia Rykiel, Isabel Marant, and Patricia Lerat.
Her philosophy centers on people as much as product. “My creations ensure fair remuneration for Argentinean artisans. We protect their heritage, elevate their skills, and improve working conditions. Many can work from home, benefiting their families while retaining dignity and independence. And we proudly champion equal opportunities for women—guardians of life, memory, and culture.”
Maydi also preserves ancestral techniques. Loom weaving — one of the oldest indigenous textile traditions — stands alongside crochet, which traces its lineage from South America to Arabia and China before finding roots in Europe centuries ago. Every fiber used is natural and 100% biodegradable.
This respect extends to the animals and ecosystems that sustain these fibers. Guanaco fleece from Payunia in Mendoza is hand-extracted using time-honored methods. Llama and baby llama wool from La Puna reflect shared stewardship. Vicuna — revered as “the silk of the earth” — is gathered through the sacred Chaccu ceremony, an annual ritual that supports fragile high-altitude ecosystems. Baby alpaca, prized for its weightless warmth and hypoallergenic feel, completes the collection’s noble materials.
Vicunas play a vital role in biodiversity at altitude, trimming the land and reducing fire risk. Their wool, once thrown skyward in gratitude to the Apus — the sacred protectors of the Andes — remains a treasure of cultural and ecological significance.
Today, Maydi stands as Argentina’s bespoke knitwear vanguard. The brand celebrates national textile heritage through a made-to-measure service that unites designer, artisan, and client. Buyers personalize their garments — from fabric to silhouette to an elegant palette of Black, Ecru, Military Green, Light Pink, and Sandalwood.
“This approach eliminates unnecessary stock and waste,” Maria notes. “Our clients connect emotionally with their garments. They’re choosing a conscious alternative to fast fashion—luxury defined by intimacy, intention, and respect.”
Maydi embodies the belief that refinement need not compromise responsibility.
“True luxury is connection—craft, culture, and the earth itself.”
This story originally appeared on Upscalelivingmag
