The initiative promoted by the Government of Aragon
Aragonese craftsmanship is seeking to expand beyond the workshop and enter new interior design projects. Aragón a Mano has added 10 new ambassadors specializing in trades related to interior design, joining the 10 fashion professionals with whom the initiative began to roll out in late 2025. The network now comprises 20 members.
The new ambassadors are Mercedes Artal, who specializes in alabaster; Marco Calhau, in collectible furniture; Raúl del Chano, in basketry; Marta Danés and Fernando Malo, in ceramics; Nacho Díaz, in metalworking; Gregorio Gil, in stonemasonry and stone sculpture; Andrés Millán, in alabaster plasterwork; Altay Rumeu, in furniture and wood sculpture; and Zaro, who specializes in cabinetmaking and furniture.
The appointments were formalized at an event held at Restaurante Carcas, attended by Eva Valle, the Government of Aragon’s regional minister for Economy, Competitiveness and Employment, and Carmen Herrarte, director general for SMEs, the self-employed, domestic trade and consumer affairs. The restaurant itself features works and installations by Aragón a Mano artisans, illustrating the relationship the initiative aims to strengthen between workshops and the professionals who design spaces.
From the workshop to new interior design projects
The addition of this second group enables Aragón a Mano to extend the model launched in fashion to another field in which traditional trades can find new commercial applications. The aim is to connect artisans with architects, interior designers, designers and other professionals able to incorporate pieces made in Aragon into homes, hospitality venues and other spaces.
The case of Raúl del Chano illustrates one such avenue. This basket maker works from Los Villanuevas, a small town in the province of Teruel, and this season his work has reached Madrid through displays at Joyería Suárez. After receiving the recognition, he explained what this exposure means for a professional working in a rural area: “Being recognized as an ambassador for Aragon’s fine craftsmanship, after spending half your life working alone in your workshop, is a way of telling the sector that this can also be done from a village of 29 residents.”
The experience of the first generation of ambassadors also provides precedents for this strategy. Glass artisan Susana Martín, a member of the fashion-focused group, collaborated this year with Maison Mesa at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid. For the collection, she created 420 glass drops incorporated into four dresses and 10 blown-glass pieces used as jewelry.
A strategy to expand the market for craftsmanship
Aragón a Mano was created in late 2025 as a hallmark for the region’s fine craftsmanship. The initiative is part of the MIMA program —Modernization, Innovation and Improving the Competitiveness of Aragonese Craftsmanship—, which includes 24 action lines under the 2025-2028 Chamber Competitiveness Plan.
Beyond recognizing professionals in artisan trades, the initiative seeks to increase their visibility and foster links with activities capable of generating new commercial opportunities. Fashion was the first field selected, with interior design now serving as the second. The strategy also envisages relationships with sectors such as gastronomy, tourism and luxury.
The brand is also working on participating in new trade fairs and industry gatherings in the coming months and, according to the Government of Aragon, is exploring a collaboration with Forbes related to interior design.
The move into these sectors addresses one of the challenges facing many artisan trades: converting the technical and cultural value of their pieces into market opportunities capable of sustaining their workshops. In less than a year, Aragón a Mano has gone from establishing its first fashion-focused network to bringing together 20 ambassadors and opening a second channel for professional connections through interior design.
