This patient labor became the focal point of the European Craft Days when José González, a regional minister, visited the studio to observe their technique. There is a specific, quiet tension in the way the artisans work; they rely on the natural tannins found in vegetation to act as a dye, a process that requires both botanical knowledge and a delicate touch. To fix the colors, they often use "iron water"—a mixture of vinegar and discarded metal scraps—which reacts with the plant matter to create deep, indelible shadows of the original leaves.
The ecoprint technique is an exercise in restraint. Unlike industrial textile printing, which relies on mass-produced patterns, every piece created by Uxía, Nuria, and Antía is unique. The final result depends entirely on the season the leaves were gathered and the mineral content of the water used in the steaming process.
During the ministerial visit, the conversation turned to the survival of these skills. In an era of rapid automation, the transition of knowledge between generations has become a precarious bridge. To address this, a new €1 million initiative has been established to support apprentice training, ensuring that the technical secrets of the 64,000 craft companies across the country are not lost.
The workshop in Vigo is one of more than one hundred initiatives taking place across the four provinces of Galicia this week. While the events span 25 European countries, the work of these three women remains rooted in their local landscape. On April 10 and 11, they will open their doors to the public, teaching others how to find color in the bark and blossoms of the Spanish countryside, proving that a trade's value lies as much in the hands of the maker as in the beauty of the object.