Fashion statement
By BETH DAVID, Standard-Times correspondent
DARTMOUTH -- Dolores Hirschmann smiles as easily as
she slips from fluent English to her native Spanish
back to English. It's easy to imagine her cooking
dinner on the stove, holding a conference call and
burping a baby simultaneously.
The 32-year-old Dartmouth mother of three,
pregnant with her fourth child, is a veritable whirlwind
of activity.
An Argentinean native who married local businessman
Alekz Hirschmann, she has worked for non-profits and
financial institutions, and has volunteered for numerous
causes. She even tap dances and dabbles in choreography.
"I've enjoyed a lot of different things," she said.
A business major in college, her latest endeavor is designed to lift an entire population of
Argentinean women from a deepening economic crisis that left most households with only
one-third their previous income.
Hence, the birth of the Wawas collection: exquisitely hand-crafted clothing knitted, crocheted and
loom-woven with cross-stitched embroidery in bright colors and modern designs, but with an
old-world impression.
"Knitting is an easy way to earn income without leaving home. Some are grandmothers who are
working out of the house. They have three or four or five or six grandchildren in the house and
they can't do anything else. Day care is not as common as it is here."
The word "wawas" means "children" in the indigenous Quechua language, and was chosen to
celebrate that the work is done, literally, around children.
Ms. Hirschmann's friend from kindergarten started the company, creates many of the original
designs and commissions nearly 60 women to produce them. Ms. Hirschmann handles sales in the
U.S.
She admits that when her friend said "grandmothers" were knitting the clothes, Ms. Hirschmann
thought "old-fashioned ponchos," But she wanted to help because the need was so great, so she
took a look.
"As soon as I walked in the door, she started showing me these things ... and I got hooked."
She brought some items back with her, showed them to friends and hosted a house party where
women had a lot of fun "playing closet." Slowly, the word is getting out about the colorful,
handmade, unique products.
"I had no clue what I was getting into," she said with a laugh.
Now, she's ready to move the company to the next step. A fair amount of Wawas summer stock is
available at Flora in Padanaram, and Ms. Hirschmann is actively seeking new outlets.
Meanwhile, she will be at the Padanaram Sidewalk Sale on July 23, and the Nonquitt Fair on Aug.
26.
Her summer stock includes brightly colored, lightweight sweaters, pashminas, throws, ponchos
and cloaks.
The winter collection features thick and warm scarves, hats, long cloaks, pashminas and ponchos.
All fabrics are soft to the touch and combine traditional and modern elements to create the
unique look.
Each piece has a tag with all the usual information, but also identifies the artisan who created it.
"Because it's made by one woman, it's a real piece of somebody's life, and I want to stress that.
That's the whole point of this."
She believes that the growth of women-centered enterprises like Wawas is the "positive side of a
crisis."
"It's women helping women: women-made products for women. The goal is that it really becomes
a big business. The goal is to promote women."
She said Argentina has "a lot of highly educated people with little means but a lot of creativity"
and laments the observation that half of her university class works in New York City.
"It speaks well of them, but it's sad for the country."
As for her husband, he must have had some idea of her boundless energy before he married her.
They became engaged only three months after they met, and had two weddings: one in the U.S.
and one in Argentina.
"He's very supportive. He has no choice, I'm a very strong woman."
Besides, what else would she do with all that energy?
"I'm a better mother as a working mother. And not just for pay, volunteer work, too. I'm just a
better mother that way."
This story appeared on Page A7 of The Standard-Times on July 12, 2005
By BETH DAVID, Standard-Times correspondent
DARTMOUTH -- Dolores Hirschmann smiles as easily as
she slips from fluent English to her native Spanish
back to English. It's easy to imagine her cooking
dinner on the stove, holding a conference call and
burping a baby simultaneously.
The 32-year-old Dartmouth mother of three,
pregnant with her fourth child, is a veritable whirlwind
of activity.
An Argentinean native who married local businessman
Alekz Hirschmann, she has worked for non-profits and
financial institutions, and has volunteered for numerous
causes. She even tap dances and dabbles in choreography.
"I've enjoyed a lot of different things," she said.
A business major in college, her latest endeavor is designed to lift an entire population of
Argentinean women from a deepening economic crisis that left most households with only
one-third their previous income.
Hence, the birth of the Wawas collection: exquisitely hand-crafted clothing knitted, crocheted and
loom-woven with cross-stitched embroidery in bright colors and modern designs, but with an
old-world impression.
"Knitting is an easy way to earn income without leaving home. Some are grandmothers who are
working out of the house. They have three or four or five or six grandchildren in the house and
they can't do anything else. Day care is not as common as it is here."
The word "wawas" means "children" in the indigenous Quechua language, and was chosen to
celebrate that the work is done, literally, around children.
Ms. Hirschmann's friend from kindergarten started the company, creates many of the original
designs and commissions nearly 60 women to produce them. Ms. Hirschmann handles sales in the
U.S.
She admits that when her friend said "grandmothers" were knitting the clothes, Ms. Hirschmann
thought "old-fashioned ponchos," But she wanted to help because the need was so great, so she
took a look.
"As soon as I walked in the door, she started showing me these things ... and I got hooked."
She brought some items back with her, showed them to friends and hosted a house party where
women had a lot of fun "playing closet." Slowly, the word is getting out about the colorful,
handmade, unique products.
"I had no clue what I was getting into," she said with a laugh.
Now, she's ready to move the company to the next step. A fair amount of Wawas summer stock is
available at Flora in Padanaram, and Ms. Hirschmann is actively seeking new outlets.
Meanwhile, she will be at the Padanaram Sidewalk Sale on July 23, and the Nonquitt Fair on Aug.
26.
Her summer stock includes brightly colored, lightweight sweaters, pashminas, throws, ponchos
and cloaks.
The winter collection features thick and warm scarves, hats, long cloaks, pashminas and ponchos.
All fabrics are soft to the touch and combine traditional and modern elements to create the
unique look.
Each piece has a tag with all the usual information, but also identifies the artisan who created it.
"Because it's made by one woman, it's a real piece of somebody's life, and I want to stress that.
That's the whole point of this."
She believes that the growth of women-centered enterprises like Wawas is the "positive side of a
crisis."
"It's women helping women: women-made products for women. The goal is that it really becomes
a big business. The goal is to promote women."
She said Argentina has "a lot of highly educated people with little means but a lot of creativity"
and laments the observation that half of her university class works in New York City.
"It speaks well of them, but it's sad for the country."
As for her husband, he must have had some idea of her boundless energy before he married her.
They became engaged only three months after they met, and had two weddings: one in the U.S.
and one in Argentina.
"He's very supportive. He has no choice, I'm a very strong woman."
Besides, what else would she do with all that energy?
"I'm a better mother as a working mother. And not just for pay, volunteer work, too. I'm just a
better mother that way."
This story appeared on Page A7 of The Standard-Times on July 12, 2005
| JOHN SLADEWSKI/Standard-Times special Dolores Hirschmann of Dartmouth, a native of Argentina, stands with examples of the Wawas collection of clothing other Argentinean woman have made by hand. |