The rhythm of Esparto: from ancestral wisdom to conscious design
In The Shapes of Esparto course by ANDOR Studio, we work with esparto as a living, natural, and sustainable material, capable of shaping objects that combine function, beauty, and meaning. Through simple yet precise gestures, we revisit ancestral techniques and immerse ourselves in a process that calls for presence, patience, and sensitivity. Every stage, from preparing the fibre to finishing the piece, is an opportunity to slow down and reconnect with the rhythm of hands and materials.
With the freedom to create different pieces, when we turn to the handcrafting of esparto brooms, we come to understand that it is more than a technical exercise. It is an act of care for the object, for the space we inhabit, and for the knowledge passed on through generations. These brooms are not merely tools for cleaning; within their making lies the gesture of maintaining, preserving, and respecting. They carry with them a collective memory while, at the same time, they open paths toward new ways of being and creating.
By learning these techniques, we are not only building durable and sustainable objects. We are also honouring ancestral knowledge, bringing it forward into the present, and placing it at the centre of a more conscious way of living, where simplicity, beauty, and respect for natural materials converge.
Written by instructor Daniela Monteiro Torres, ANDOR Studio. Join us in March 2026 and register here for the workshop on crafting and shaping plant fibers.