In order to respect tradition and achieve the quality and faithful representation of what traditional dress symbolises, the manual weaving of espolines at Vives y Marí takes place on antique wooden looms from the mid-19th century.
The fabric thus takes its name from the shuttle used to work and weave the flowers and the variety of different motifs, creating an espolinado fabric that produces a unique and characteristic embroidery effect. As the result of a completely artisanal process that respects the tradition and skills acquired through study and experience, the final product is a unique fabric and, therefore, of high value, due to the number of hours needed to weave a full dress length. To give an idea, in a working day only 10 to 12 centimetres are usually completed.
Each person has their own tastes and ideas when choosing a dress, which is why the client has the possibility of personalising their espolín, choosing the colours of the flowers, decorations, background and the metals used for ornamentation. The result is a fabric with unmatched colours and highlights, completely unique and personal.
Every year, Falleras Mayores of Valencia, Belleas del Foc and other representatives of the festivals of the Valencian Community have the honour of commissioning and wearing the most prestigious and desired fabric produced in Spain.
Thanks to its espolín named "Alicante", Vives y Marí received the 2010 Craftsmanship Award from the Valencia Chamber of Commerce, a design highly representative of 18th-century Valencian sketches. It is a symmetrical design that stands out for its abundance of floral motifs, woven with 44 colours for the flowers and three different shades of green, plain gold and plain silver. Its creation required more than 800 hours of work spread over three shifts.
Vives y Marí is the only company that certifies the authenticity of its espolines through AITEX, the national Textile Technology Institute which, by studying and examining the technical characteristics of each fabric, verifies its origin, quality and value and assigns it a registration number.