Weaving heritage, innovation and ethical practice
- Luisa combines medieval weaving traditions with modern textile working techniques
- She works exclusively with certified natural fibres of plant and ethical animal origin
- She offers immersive courses, guided visits and collaborative projects from her dynamic studio hub
Luisa Guardo began working with fibres and dyes at age 8 under her mother's guidance in the family workshop. She later earned degrees in education at Universidad Complutense de Madrid and in conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, specialising in textiles, at Escuela Superior de Arte Mariano Timón in Palencia. In 2019, Luisa opened Ídem de Lienzo in Santa Cecilia del Alcor, a studio and workshop where she focuses on low-loom hand weaving, embroidery and free lace techniques. Drawing on the region's rich medieval wool tradition, Luisa combines traditional methods with experimental materials and motifs inspired by Hispano-Muslim textiles. "I use scrap fabric, warp-painting and natural dyeing to make my creations. My craft is a dialogue between technique, material and aesthetic intent," she says. "Ídem de Lienzo is a space of creation with memory, made for those who value authenticity, quality and the emotion of handmade products."
Interview
- How would you define the work you do nowadays?
- Not only do I design and produce by hand, but I also research, publish and teach. I open the workshop to the public, participate in fairs and collaborate with cultural spaces. I am committed to natural fibres, responsible processes and lasting beauty, with an ethical conscience and a commitment to the identity of the craft.
- Do you want to convey a message through your work?
- Yes, my work seeks to convey that craftsmanship is about much more than an object. It is a way of thinking, a silent language of identity, memory and respect for the rhythms of nature and human life. I want people to understand that in each warp there is a story, and that textile art is a living testimony that can move us, challenge us and accompany us.
- What aspect of your craft often surprises people?
- The complex mathematics that a weaver must master to create a piece are considered the starting point of mathematical thinking in the world, originating from the need to weave. Weaving requires not only manual skill and creativity, but also a deep understanding of underlying mathematical structures.
- What are your goals for the future?
- My goal for 2030 is for Ídem de Lienzo to become a centre of creation and an accredited school, with residencies for designers, an open digital archive and collaborations with workshops and labs making renewable materials. My aim is for the studio to become benchmark for contemporary textile craftsmanship: guardian of memory, innovation lab and engine of sustainable local development.
Luisa Guardo is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2002 and she started teaching in 2019
Where
Luisa Guardo
