London

Sandra Vilas

Boina Galega

Felt maker | Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Creations that celebrate felt

Sandra creates felt pieces ranging from beret hats to decorative figurines
She was awarded a national prize for entrepreneurship for her work in 2018
Her passion for felt dates back to her childhood

Sandra Vilas was taught from a very young age the basic techniques of sewing, embroidery, crochet, and knitting by her grandmother, Claudina, who was a seamstress by profession. “That is where my love for textiles comes from,” says Sandra. “My grandmother was the most meticulous person I have ever known.” Under her grandmother's guidance and as a game while her parents were at work, throughout her childhood, Sandra made all sorts of clothes and accessories for her dolls. Out of all the techniques she tried out, it was with felt that she felt the strongest connection, as it allowed her creativity to run free. “With felt I can create garments, three-dimensional objects, and even sculptural pieces. I am a very restless person, and felt is the only medium with which I feel there are no limits,” adds Sandra. Nature is a constant source of inspiration for her creations.

Interview

How do you merge modernity with tradition?: Tradition is always present in my work. The beret, for instance, is an accessory that has long been a part of rural Galician culture, and I wanted to bring it into a more modern and contemporary context.
What does it mean to create a well-made piece?: It means crafting something with care, passion and purpose, respecting every detail of the process and achieving a result that is durable, functional and aesthetically harmonious.
Are these difficult times for artisans?: Right now, I would say no. Perhaps a few years ago, things were tougher. I believe that craftsmanship in general, and felt in particular, face significant challenges, but they also have great potential to remain alive if we know how to adapt to the times.
What moment in your career do you remember with joy?: When I received the Emprende Gaiás Sixto Seco award in 2018. It is an entrepreneurship prize in the cultural and design sector. It turned out to be the prelude to everything that came next in my career. From that moment on, it has been full of great challenges and great satisfactions in equal measure.

Sandra Vilas is a master artisan: she began her career in 2009 and she started teaching in 2018