“Hecho a mano en España”—handmade in Spain—is a phrase that fully captures the spirit of everything Ester Cortés set out to do when she started her brand. After leaving a life abroad behind in the wake of the pandemic, she found herself back in her hometown of Extremadura. This stunning, landlocked region in the heart of Spain is scattered with medieval cities and open fields that look like they could have been lifted straight from an old-world painting.

This is where Cortés found her inspiration. “The countryside and slow life were my main source of inspiration to leave everything behind and pursue what I had always wanted to do,” she says.

For her, this is exactly where the philosophy behind Brave__of begins: deeply rooted in the traditions that her region works hard to preserve, even as the pace of life accelerates and younger generations move on to bigger, faster cities around the world.

“The techniques we use—and strive to preserve in our region—are knitting and crochet,” she explains. “These are ancient techniques passed down from generation to generation, and I believe we’ve successfully adapted them to modern times.”

Knitting with high-quality wool sourced from Extremadura is central to what they do. According to Cortés, this traditional craft has a history going back more than 200 years. Techniques like twined knitting are used to create unique pieces—scarves, sweaters, hats—each one rooted in heritage and handmade from start to finish.

The brand’s design philosophy is all about blending tradition with modern sensibilities. “We always try to create garments that—even if they’re shown on the runway—are still wearable and sellable pieces,” Cortés says.

But none of it comes without its challenges. With a production line that relies heavily on women artisans from the region, Cortés realized she also had to educate clients—helping them understand that every piece is intricately made and absolutely deserves to be valued, both emotionally and financially.

She’s also upfront about the logistics: “Producing everything in Spain is another major challenge for our brand,” she admits.

Each garment from Brave__of carries the designer’s quiet rebellion against fast fashion and mass overproduction. Every piece is completely handmade, meaning no two are ever the same. The hands that knit it, the tension in the stitching, the dye lot of the yarn—it all creates subtle but meaningful differences.

For Cortés, Brave__of represents the times we’re living in: more people, especially Millennials and Gen Z, are becoming thoughtful about what they buy. “Launching a handmade brand in today’s world is a bold challenge,” she says. “But it also reflects our everyday reality.”

“I want people to stop thinking that knitting and crocheting are just grandmother’s hobbies—they’re not!” Cortés exclaims. And she’s right. Each Brave__of dress or set comes in earthy, grounded tones with delicate, expressive patterns—deeply connected to nature and heritage. The result is always a stunning, one-of-a-kind piece, brought to life by the combined efforts of expert artisans and Cortes’s creative vision.

The way the brand operates has already attracted the attention of several established firms, many of which have gone on to collaborate with Brave__of. Cortés couldn’t be more grateful. “I admire anyone who brings value to craftsmanship,” she says. “And I’m lucky to say a few have come to mind.”

Right now, Brave__of is exploring new opportunities that could take the brand to a more global stage—when the timing and synergy feel right.

For more on Brave__Of follow their Instagram for updates.