Javier Millán, a student in his last year of designexplains his experience in first person:
"The stay in La Palma has been a deeply enriching experience both at staff and academic level. As a student of fashion design , being able to get to know closely the artisanal processes and the natural environment of the island allowed me to understand the importance of cultural roots in contemporary creation.
During the visit to the School of Crafts, I was impressed by the value given to the work guide and the transmission of knowledge between generations. Seeing how traditional techniques are kept alive made me reflect on the designer's responsibility in the preservation and reinterpretation of cultural heritage.
At the Silk Museum, the experience was especially inspiring. Watching the artisanal process of spinning, dyeing and weaving silk led me to appreciate fashion from a perspective of sustainability, patience and respect for natural materials. Each thread seemed to tell a story, linking past and present through the official document.
The excursion to the volcanoes of Tazacorte provided a more sensory and conceptual look. The strength of the landscape, the reddish tones and the texture of the volcanic earth evoked ideas of renewal and transformation, concepts also very present in the creative process. Also, moving the design away from this field, it gave us a closer view of how the natural catastrophe of the 2021 volcano was experienced, and we were able to see first-hand the damage caused by the volcano. Finally, we were able to live the experience of taking a boat ride, which offered a wonderful view of the island: observing the island from the sea was like contemplating a great natural work. We were lucky enough to go whale watching, which was a very enriching experience.
This experience reminded me that designing is not only about creating aesthetic objects, but also about connecting emotions, territory and report".
