The Inui World Tribe fashion brand creates clothes and accessories with indigenous tribes from around the world, using materials from the landscape around us. But the designs begin in Ibiza…
“When we first moved to Ibiza people laughed at our designs: ‘Wool garments in Ibiza, at those high prices? You’re crazy!’ Now I smile to myself whenever I pass someone wearing our clothing in the street. Quality always shines through eventually.”
Meet Jimmy and Alba Luna, a couple who met in an Indian desert, fell in love, and now live in the north of Ibiza where, with the help of a variety of indigenous communities around the world, they make beautiful clothing and accessories.
“It was Alba’s original idea,” smiles Jimmy as we sit outside their San Carlos home in the fading summer sunshine. “She wanted to travel to remote locations where she could meet local producers, learn their centuries-old techniques and traditions and return with her own designs for them to create.” Perhaps the most striking pieces are their kimonos, coats, ponchos and capes, which are made from the wool alpacas grazing high in the mountains of Jimmy’s native Ecuador. Their stunning bags are created from banana trees in India and cactus fibres in Mexico, while their scarves and dresses originate from the stinging nettles of Nepal. Also in Ecuador, they have begun to develop natural dyes using cinnamon, avocado and wild flowers, as life continues to provide learning opportunities for the forward-thinking couple.
“The beautiful thing about our pieces is that everything is unique, no two garments or bags are the same. We also take our time with the production process and always listen to our producers. They are all working with techniques that have been passed down to them for thousands of years but they are still eager to learn from us. We have a deep connection with them, we are friends for life and we are joined in the harmonious task of creating pieces of art for people to wear.”
Visit the Inui World Tribe stalls at Las Dalias and San Joan markets every week.
