Taming the wind

On its own, a single filament is not much. But when several fibers are twisted together to form a thread, and that thread is joined together with several other strands to form a rope, that weak strand becomes strong, functional and flexible, thus becoming an object of great versatility.

A rope can bind, coil or tie. It allows us to sew, cut or tear a chord, but also to trip over and tangle something. In ancient times, rope helped us develop shelter, machinery, art, clothing and footwear, and was an indispensable element for the development of all coastal populations.

It was the ocean that unleashed its full potential. At first, the only means of propulsion were oars and the whim of ocean currents. Ropes appeared to join boats together, to sew sails, to tie boats together and to weave fishing nets.

These ropes became ropes and these ropes developed knots. A striking maritime mooring system full of poetry and beauty, in which form followed function. An element that tamed the wind. Together with a mast and a sail, the rope caught the wind and used it for the sailor's trade and benefit.

To bind, to secure, to tie... more than 3,500 meanings, both practical and decorative, that served to secure and add value to an everyday material as ordinary as a rope, but at the same time so strong and so fundamental to the progress of humanity.

Photography: Cecilia Alvarez-Hevia Arias | Styling: Wild Pony | Model: Gemma Galán