Vacavaliente's New Leather Gadgets: Play, It's Allowed [+ News]
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires 
on 10.23.07
Yesterday we told you how many cool green we found at Design Connection 2007, an annual exhibition taking place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, until next Friday, October 26th.
Today we present you our last highlight from the show: Vacavaliente's new line of accessories, called Jugar (Spanish for 'Play'). These little men are not only made from 100% recycled (bonded) leather but, as their name says, are such an adorable excuse to stop, take a moment and play.
In fact, this was the idea that gave birth to them. "This is not only about design or green, it's about giving the time to play and relax the value it deserves", says Matias Fernandez Moore, a designer for Vacavaliente. "These shapes have the quality to invite you to do that: maybe you have it in your pen, you change its place and find the guy is doing a new pose. All of the sudden, you're hang and playing with it", he adds. Nothing more true: all of those holes just make you want to try things.
They come in a few colors and sizes, from small pencil or book accessories to big friends to hang in your kids' room or a bunch of them to make your own soccer ball.
Keep reading for bigger and brighter images, places to buy and to find out about Vacavaliente coming to a Barney's near you.
This line of products is in production but will be available at the design shop of the Museum of Latin American Art in Buenos Aires (Malba) or by request, contacting the designers. Vacavaliente is also opening a new store in Buenos Aires at 1531 Juan Ramirez de Velasco St., in Chacarita neighborhood (a few steps from northern Palermo), this Friday.
But if you're in the United States, don't be sad. Fernandez Moore told us Vacavaliente has just finished designing a new line of its 'Friends' collection for Barney's, which will be available soon in stores (pictured below). They include a set of bigger and smaller cows that serve as piggy banks, office accessories and toys. ::Vacavaliente (in English and Spanish)
One of the little men 'surfing' a pencil.
Another one telling you were you stopped reading your book.
This one holding all your pencils together.
A ball of little men.
The line designed by Vacavaliente for Barney's.
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This is a cute thing and nice that it's "recycled" but really, it's recycled cruelty.
In all cases leather is originally obtained through violent means.
If we want a new, sustainable paradigm for ourselves and our societies and our world, our choices not only need to be environmentally sound but compassionate as well.