Îacaré takes a more contemporary turn, strengthening its focus on Italy and on elevating caiman leather

Îacaré’s ultra-high-end handbags and accessories project is gathering pace. Founded by Bolivian-Brazilian Sarah Maria Gutiérrez — who also serves as creative director — the brand is built on the exclusive use of caiman leather sourced from its own traceable and certified farms.

“Ours is a truly unique product, because it originates from our caiman farm in Brazil’s Pantanal — the only one of its kind in the world,” Sarah Maria Gutiérrez tells FashionNetwork.com. “The Îacaré project began in 2012 to introduce a new category of food products to the Brazilian market. Only later did we start working with the hide to create leather goods. We imagined a new future for the Pantanal: a regenerative, circular model that adds value to the region while safeguarding its biodiversity and fragile ecosystems. So it is also a project to conserve the flora and fauna of that area.”

In essence, every Îacaré hide comes from responsible sources, thanks to conservation-led practices that promote animal welfare and support local communities through training and the provision of dignified employment. Every stage of the process reflects a tangible commitment to transparency, full traceability and respect for the ecosystem of origin. “We are guided by a clear premise: there is no way to conserve a species without human intervention or assistance. This is a fact, and it is how we work. That is why I am very proud of our project and, moreover, we do not use hides from other farms,” says Gutiérrez.

Distributed very selectively through top-tier stores, Îacaré is a true niche brand; it is also currently sold in Belmond hotels in Italy, with which it has an exclusive partnership. The brand name derives from a term in one of the languages spoken in the region, part of the large Tupi-Guaraní language family (spoken by indigenous peoples across much of South America, from eastern Brazil and the Amazon to the Peruvian Andes, the Guianas, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay), which literally means ‘caiman’.

Îacaré’s first collection, launched a year ago, was titled ‘Origins’, as it was inspired by the origins of the leather — the very soul of the brand; the second, unveiled at Milan Fashion Week, is named ‘Soft Architecture’, because it takes its cue from the leather’s natural architecture, and is more contemporary, more ready-to-wear and more accessible.

Alongside Brazil, Îacaré’s primary market is Italy. “Yes, because the leather is Brazilian, but the brand is 100 per cent Italian,” reveals the founder. “The leather travels raw from the Pantanal to Italy and is tanned in Santa Croce sull’Arno. The bags are made entirely in Florence. For the time being, our clientele is very exclusive, so it is premature to speak of opening a single-brand boutique, even though the ‘Soft Architecture’ line makes everything more accessible. For now, the aim is to define, make known and consolidate our stylistic code.”

But Sarah Maria Gutiérrez also has other plans for her company. “I came to Italy because my aim is to elevate caiman leather within the exotic leather sector and establish its position in the market, so that I can be an entrepreneur who not only uses the leather, but will, in future, also sell it to others who wish to use it to produce bags and accessories,” she explains from the courtyard of the Four Seasons Hotel in Milan, where she presented during Fashion Week. Who knows, perhaps one day we will see Sarah Maria Gutiérrez at her own stand at Lineapelle…