Our Story


SISTERS
Aurelia is a design line created by Mexican designers Andrea, Paula and Magdalena de la Torre Suárez. The three sisters studied different majors at Parsons The New School for Design and had always intended to create a family project. They currently dwell between —Los Angeles and Mexico City. Aurelia is what maintains them aligned with their matriarchal lineage, daily inspirations and each other. 

The brand launched with the Ladrillo Collection in 2017 which consists of unique, elaborated wooden bags with interchangeable Charro straps handmade by Mexican specialized artisans. This line was created as homage to their beloved great-grandmother Aurelia from Asturias; an innovative, creative and advanced woman for her time. As tribute to the creative and forward-thinking woman that she was, the sisters from Guadalajara were inspired to reconceptualize elements of Mexico’s abundant charrería culture. Commemorating the strength and beauty of the charro aesthetic, Aurelia has become a way for them to pay reverence to their Mexican and Spanish roots and the valiant women in their family.

The three sisters work with artisans specialized in woodworking and charrería to design one-of-a-kind customizable wooden bags, leather straps, belts, cotton reins and other timeless accessories, gaining the inspiration from a pure and traditional sport and craft from Mexico that achieves to empower femininity through its strength and beauty. This national sport and art form originated in Spain and was brought to Mexico in the 16th Century, later becoming the national sport which promoted not only riding technicalities and beautiful stallions but elegant attires with intricate detailing worn by the charros (the male riders), the escaramuzas (the female riders) and the horses’ refined gear.

 


ETHOS
The sisters intend to create and produce timeless designs with ethical standards, collaborating with artisans, respecting them profoundly for their artistry and expertise, and consciously making design choices that are friendly to our planet.

 

 

 

PRODUCTION
Aurelia works with craftsmen in Mexico City and Jalisco who produce from their own studios or homes, where they can spend more time with their families and pass on their expertise to the next generation. The sisters value artisanal talent and pride themselves on using ancestral and traditional craft techniques in the execution of their designs. Designing on their own terms rather than the industry standard, they understand that each piece is a work of art; they collaborate with the craftsmen throughout the design process to learn from them and ensure they have the time and resources they need to enhance their skills while simultaneously contributing to the local economies and financially supporting age-old traditions.

Aurelia produces in small batches allowing the production to be based on demand, avoiding excess waste as much as possible. All products are both sourced and made locally.

 


 


MATERIALS
All of Aurelia’s Ladrillo bags are made exclusively with recycled and reforested woods. Each bag goes through at least twenty hands in the production process before it gets to its owners, they can be customized according to the taste and preference of each client.

The leather products are made from cowhide, hand-picked for quality purposes, the master artisans consciously take into account not to have excess waste. The leather cutouts are used for products, even the smaller pieces become bracelets or key chains. Most of the fine detailing in the belts and straps are made from recycled hand sculpted bone.

The packaging is made from jerga, a traditional Mexican textile made from 100% recycled cotton used for cleaning wood and other materials.

Aurelia intends to explore and work with more sustainable materials for future products.