Aqvarossa: chic and timeless design with alpaca
Between Zurich and London, the stylish and sustainable collections of Aqvarossa have a special connection with the alpaca fibre. Their conscious choice of natural fibres and the idea of longevity for a sustainable wardrobe defines the brand ethos for responsible shopping.
We connected with Christine Losser from their Head Office in Zurich to discover the universe of their sophisticated, versatile and sustainable designs of Aqvarossa.
“The idea of Aqvarossa has been in my head for the last 10 years. I was finishing my studies for a diplomatic career in Geneva, and had an exchange year to finish my studies in Lima, Peru.” shares Losser on how she first encounter alpaca garments.
Back in her native Switzerland, she started using some of the knitted pieces she had purchased back in Peru and was surprised by how warm and easy-to-wear they were. Questions on the potential of the fabric for the northern European markets started: Why isn’t alpaca being shared more? Why not create a brand?
Fast forward to 2019, Aqvarossa made its debut with a chic, timeless and sustainable collection. Their proposal was clean and simple: ethically-made pieces made to last. For the creative side, Vera Thordardottir’s design team in London fashioned high-end pieces with clean cuts, structured silhouettes and graceful shapes that suit a wide range of body shapes and can be worn throughout the day.
For Losser, the main goal of Aqvarossa is longevity. Your wardrobe can change, but Aqvarossa’s pieces are here to stay.
AUGUSTA COAT OFF WHITE
SILVYA JACKETAt the beginning, people thought they worked with cashmere because of how soft the pieces were. Though cashmere is the to-go choice for the average European knitwear customer, alpaca is slowly becoming known outside the circle of fashion industry professionals. “With alpaca you need to have a strong story-telling, so it is imperative for us find the right people to work with”, she says, while referring to boutiques, showrooms and B to C points of sales.
“High quality alpaca will never be a product for the mass market”.
SERAPHINE COAT HOUNDSTOOTH
NAOMI JACKET CAMELRegarding seasons, Losser addresses the most common question she gets from buyers is “what about summer collections?”.
Christine points out that the focus of the brand is not on alpaca fibre exclusively, but natural yarns. Cotton, hemp and lighter fabrics are the brand alternatives for warmer seasons. However, she also states that alpaca pieces can also be worn during summertime, at least in Switzerland and the Nordics countries.
