Cruda was born in 2023 by the hand of Febe Abarca, a small and very meaningful capsule, which paved my way to create with purpose, valuing artisanal, intuitive work rooted in the earth.

Since then, Cruda has had an important role to play in my journey with @foranea.

This new edition, three years later, was born from my own encounter with dyeing, this time in collaboration with the Boruca indigenous community.

These were months of shared work, of deep learning, of respectful listening to their ancestral knowledge with natural dyes. I learned about plants, timing, and mistakes.

From this process came the hand-dyed dresses and sets, one by one.

No two are the same.

Each color has a story.

This collection is a bridge between what was and what I experience today.

A way to say thank you and continue.

I hope that when you wear these clothes you feel a little of what I felt when I saw them come to life.

Thank you for being here.

— Mabe.

A celebration of Costa Rica's cultural heritage, where tradition and nature intertwine in every color. This capsule collection is born from a deep respect for the ancestral knowledge of the Boruca, an indigenous Costa Rican community that has kept its roots alive for centuries, preserving its language, art, and traditional techniques.

In collaboration with Doña Marina and her daughters, who are part of this community, each piece has been hand-dyed naturally with dyes extracted from plants, roots, and leaves grown on their land. These dyes, created with knowledge passed down from mother to daughter for generations, reflect their deep connection to the nature they inhabit.

The colors in this capsule are a tribute to the nuances that come from the earth itself: a rich and deep palette that reflects the eternal connection between humans and nature.

Roots of Color

Coffee

The earthy brown color of this piece comes from the bark of the nance tree and its ashes. The nance is a small, round fruit that turns from yellow to orange when ripe. It is sweet with a hint of acidity and is used in both Costa Rican cuisine and traditional medicine.

These colors are not artificial; they are a pure reflection of nature, imbued with the very essence of the earth. And it is precisely because of this authenticity that they require special care. Unlike synthetic dyes, which set permanently and uniformly, natural dyes remain sensitive to changes in the environment.

CARE GUIDE//

Blue

The deep blue color of this piece is extracted from Azul de Mata, a plant with orange flowers used in Costa Rica since pre-Columbian times for its medicinal properties. This blue hue, characteristic of traditional Costa Rican adobe houses, was obtained by mixing Azul de Mata with lime or clay. This paint not only provided color but also helped repel insects.

These colors are not artificial; they are a pure reflection of nature, imbued with the very essence of the earth. And it is precisely because of this authenticity that they require special care. Unlike synthetic dyes, which set permanently and uniformly, natural dyes remain sensitive to changes in the environment.

CARE GUIDE//

Terracotta

The terracotta color of this piece is extracted from the bark of the nance tree—characteristic of the dry tropical Pacific climate. The nance is a small, round fruit that turns from yellow to orange when ripe. It is sweet with a hint of acidity and is used in both Costa Rican cuisine and traditional medicine.

These colors are not artificial; they are a pure reflection of nature, imbued with the very essence of the earth. And it is precisely because of this authenticity that they require special care. Unlike synthetic dyes, which set permanently and uniformly, natural dyes remain sensitive to changes in the environment.

CARE GUIDE//

Green

This forest green color is one of the many shades extracted from the blue Mata plant, a plant with orange flowers, used in Costa Rica since pre-Columbian times for its medicinal properties + cotton plant, cultivated in the humid tropical soil of Buenos Aires, Puntarenas.

These colors are not artificial; they are a pure reflection of nature, imbued with the very essence of the earth. And it is precisely because of this authenticity that they require special care. Unlike synthetic dyes, which set permanently and uniformly, natural dyes remain sensitive to changes in the environment.

CARE GUIDE//

Mustard

The mustard color of this piece reflects the roots of the yuquilla, a plant with long, robust roots from which shades ranging from yellow to brown are extracted. During the day, the opening of its lilac flowers allows sunlight to enter, favoring pollination. By closing at night, the yuquilla flowers prevent pollen from moistening and germinating before pollination.

These colors are not artificial; they are a pure reflection of nature, imbued with the very essence of the earth. And it is precisely because of this authenticity that they require special care. Unlike synthetic dyes, which set permanently and uniformly, natural dyes remain sensitive to changes in the environment.

CARE GUIDE//