By Natalie Cederbaum.
Last September, Valentina Suarez, the Director of the Universo Mola program at the Foundation Entre Soles y Lunas, embarked on a trip to Europe with the aim of studying and receiving training. She was fortunate to be awarded a scholarship by the International Italian Latin American organization. A wonderful opportunity to delve deeper into sustainability from new horizons. Normally, Valentina is the one that disseminates scholarship information within the Latin American community. However, this time, the tables were turned. Valentina personally shares her firsthand experiences of this remarkable journey.
Class in Milano Fashion Institute.
Image taken by Valen.
What was the process like to obtain the Es Organizzazione IILA scholarship? What did you feel when you were selected?
«The application process was straightforward. It involved submitting a project proposal, recommendation letters, and a CV, followed by a waiting period. I received the acceptance letter early on a Friday in August. I vividly remember that the first thing I did was hug my mom and express my gratitude for encouraging me to apply. I then sat down to process all the information. At that moment, I felt that everything I had been doing with Universo MOLA had more significance than I had initially realized, and this scholarship felt like a reward for the countless hours I had dedicated to the program.”
The Habilitas 2023 scholarship, which focuses on the fashion sector, provided me with the opportunity to undertake an internship in three different locations in Italy.
“In the first phase, we had the privilege of delving into sustainability and exploring the renowned “made in Italy” at Milano Fashion Institute, under the guidance of knowledgeable professors and mentors. Additionally, we were fortunate to engage in an internship at Aptean, a software company, where my luxury team, consisting of highly talented professionals and experts in their respective fields (Fabiana Cola, a bag designer from Brazil, and Quetzalcóatl Ramos, a footwear designer from Mexico), collaborated on developing a sustainability plan for the company’s clients.
“We created a comprehensive proposal that went beyond textile certifications, taking into account the entire spectrum of companies ranging from luxury brands to mass-market retailers. Our aim was to understand the diverse perspectives and variables that come into play when working with a variety of companies operating in different contexts,” explains Suárez.
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Valentina Suárez with her teammates.
Image provided by Valentina Suárez.
Subsequently, he had the opportunity to immerse himself in the Italian fashion districts located in the Veneto region, with Padua serving as the central hub. During this time, he attended classes in the Galileo Visionary District. «This phase of the course was truly remarkable. We had the privilege of visiting factories and facilities belonging to renowned companies like Santini, Benetton, Industria del Design, Marzotto, as well as several smaller specialized and family-owned businesses. This experience provided us with a tangible understanding of what «Made in Italy» truly signifies,» declares Valentina.
Finally, all the practice ended at Bérgamo, where she had an opportunity to exchange in the Forum Pymes del IILA in order to establish connections and to learn about diverse positions.
Benetton’s facilities.
Image provided by Valentina Suárez.
On top of that, she had the privilege of immersing herself in the vibrant Italian fashion week, where the creativity of the emerging designers who are betting on sustainability as the main axe of their creations stood out.
“We had the opportunity to attend the Fashion Hub several times, something like the MFW HeadQuarters. There were several exhibitions of designers from different places. The work of Escvdo stood out a lot; it is a Peruvian brand with an impressive measurable impact, with whom I had the pleasure to talk for a while. Also, the work of Felipe Fiallo from Ecuadorian footwear and Liwen Liang, who staggered me with his ability to unite ancient arts such as ceramics with fashion to express his vision of life.”
Many times, being a foreigner can have complications, but this was not the case. “I believe that my knowledge could be exploited to the fullest, being at a good level in my studies, letting me contribute from my experience in a territory as vast as ours,” she said.
When asked about the Italian culture, Valentina explains that in the fashion field, the tendency is to specialize in a specific discipline and position themselves as leaders in that field. “Their vision of life, of pleasure, of beauty, and of art is as reflected in the collective imagination that we all have, but being there, you not only see it but also share it, and you take it as your own.”
Living an experience as such, without doubt, influence your thoughts and your perspectives. Valentina says that this was a trip to open her mind to other themes that, maybe in Latin America, are not given as much attention. “I felt fashion was much more globalized when I was there. “I felt fashion was closer and even more democratized compared to our Latin America. But most important, I was able to reaffirm what I have been saying for the past 7 years: the Latin American potential in the global fashion system is huge.”
Finally, we asked her to summarize this unforgettable experience in 3 words.
Her answer was determining: “humanizing, connecting, and enriching.”
It is a source of great pride for Universo MOLA to have Valentina as director, an exceptional representative on the international scene. Her dedication, creativity, and leadership have been inspiring not only for the community but also for Latin America. We look forward to accompanying you every step of the way.
