Hacienda Montaecristo

Francesca Bonato’s accessories line, Hacienda Montaecristo, was born of necessity. When she and her husband, the model Nicolas Malleville, opened their hotel, Coqui Coqui, in Tulum, Mexico, 10 years ago, ‘‘Calvin Klein didn’t sell linens here,’’ she says. So the couple made their own, working with local weavers for everything from towels to uniforms. Along the way, she fell in love with the traditional shawl called the rebozo, which she and her partner , Jacopo Janniello Ravagnan, use for their bags, sandals and jewelry. ‘‘We’re inspired by the synchronicity of the colonial and local traditions,’’ she says, ‘‘by the romanticism of Mexico.’’  Above, Francesca with Hacienda Montaecristo weavers in Vallodolid, Mexico.  Personally,  I am loving the rebozo's and the sandals!

The Hacienda Montaecristo collection is built from intricately woven scarves, braided leather shoes, and fringed leather necklaces. And, it seems inspiration doesn’t always come from the outside, pieces within the existing line are always spurring new creations.  “The fringe necklaces are the reinterpreting of the fringes made by hand in the crochet of the rebozos,” said Francesca, “We love to give a sense and a continuity to each of our products.”

Francesca's vintage rebozo collection.

Leather and rebozo sandals.

Many of the above photos from Nonsense & Sensibility.