Meet Clara Aynié | Accessory designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Clara Aynié and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Clara, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Something I hadn’t even fully realized myself before working inside the clothing industry is that every garment, every accessory, every pair of shoes, is manufactured. I believe sometimes the processes behind the production of an item, from the generation of raw materials to the finishing treatments, are invisibilized. People are used to products being ready for purchase in shopping malls, but many times they are unaware of all the different steps that had to be carried out in order to fabricate them. Working in the industry, I rediscovered the value of handmade work – especially when it is artisanal work -, the treasuring and understanding of the time each process takes, the indispensability of the people who carry out these processes. Every step in the development of a new item takes time, hard work and team collaboration, and that is something I wish to cherish and express in Aynié.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My name is Clara Aynié. I am the founder and designer of Aynié, a Buenos Aires based bags and accessories brand. The project arises from the desire to retrieve traditional crafts related to hand-made work. Weaving and leather-working are the brand´s fundamental expertise.

I was raised among scraps of fabric, dresses and pairs of shoes. Ever since I can remember, I have loved clothes and accessories, I even used to dress up my sister and cousins during family dinners. When I grew up, I pursued my desire and started working in the fashion industry, in an innovative brand where I was coached by Jessica Trosman, one of Argentina´s flagship designers. This is how I got immersed in her design processes, soaking up her way of seeking inspiration and her working methods. Two years ago, I decided I was ready to embark on my own venture. I longed for the idea of being able to press my way of seeing the world into my own creations.

Besides, I had this family treasure – a centenary saddlery – I knew I had to cherish. This is what really pushed me forward, and what makes me proudest. Based on the research of new techniques and noble materials, and within a contemporary framework, I seek to redefine the family heritage creating functional and elegant accessories for everyday life.

Even though it might not seem like it, entering the family business has been a big challenge for me. The saddlery founded by my great-grandfather has been historically led by three generations of men. This is the first time a woman enters the family business, bringing forth a new concept. The coexistence of the traditional alongside the contemporary is something we work on every day with my father, with whom I share my workspace.

This has not been the only challenge in building my brand. When you run your own project, risk is always around the corner. I resigned from my old job at the end of 2019, and gave life to Aynié at the beginning of 2020, convinced that this was a good time to start something new. I wasn’t aware that the world had different plans. Nevertheless, the risks involved in the pandemic constitute an intrinsic part of the development of my project. During lockdown, we all needed to stay home, and supplies and materials were not entering my country. I believe that being able to develop my products in these alarming conditions gave me the strength and the resilience to adapt to different situations. Needless to say that the pandemic brought catastrophic consequences for our world, I believe it also taught me, and everyone, a few things about pursuing my desire even when the risk is imminent.

Aynié is constantly rediscovering and redefining ancestral techniques. Creating lasting products, with responsible manufacturing. I strongly believe that what drives Aynié forward is the people who are immersed in it. The people who provide me with materials and supplies, the ones who manufacture, who knit, sow, make patterns, cut leather. We have built a weft of horizontal collaborations, in which each worker, each person, becomes indispensable for the culmination of the processes.

Definitely, the utmost important decision I made for the success of Aynié was hiring a good team. I was always told that if I wanted to grow, then I could not work on my own. And it was completely true. As soon as I started building my team, success and professionalization began to slowly arrive. Juana and Marina were my first teammates. Committed and creative, they provided new perspectives and workflows. We have recently incorporated two new members to our team, Ale and Nico, who bring different fields’ know-how into the business. We are growing, and that makes the project more exciting.

I am convinced that the story behind Aynié and the values we wish to pursue are a fundamental engine of the project. I believe in this idea about working hard on what you desire: actions born out of genuine desire reach beyond, and that is what pushes us forward every day.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
To drink natural wine: Naranajo Bar To eat: Gran Dabbang
To eat gluten-free: Las Flores
To visit and buy design pieces: Concepción Local
To buy books: Falena
Museums: Proa and MAMBA
To watch independent films: MALBA cine
To buy jewelry: Mora Lasnier

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to recognize all the people who are a part of Aynié.

Special mention to workshop team: Marina Heredia and Juana Querio.

Photoshooting team. Photographer: @martinpisotti_ , styling duo: @simes____ , make-up artist: @miucciamua, models: Masumi Briozzo, Luna Alvarez Castillo and Felisa Lacroze.

And my father, Gustavo Aynié.

Website: https://ayniebsas.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aynie_bsas

Other: WORKSHOP ADDRESS: OPEN MON TO FRI FROM 11 AM TO 6PM – ORTEGA Y GASSET 1539, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.

Image Credits
Portrait photo: Clara Aynié, Marina Heredia and Juana Querio. Photographer of all the photos: Martin Pisotti. Antique photo of Talabartería Aynié was taken in 1960.