BLACK PEARL Culture@ Sustainable Look Profile: Sebastian Chacon
For this portrait, Sebastian Chacon draws from his Colombian, Ecuadorian, and Amazonian heritage to create a look rooted in cultural sustainability. His approach reflects how ancestral craftsmanship, family objects, and mindful fashion choices can come together to tell a living story. Rather than styling for effect, he shows up in pieces that carry lineage, memory, and the environments that shaped his family across the Andes and the Amazon.
Heritage Carriel & Andean Textiles
Sebastian wears a traditional Carriel, a small structured leather bag originating from Jericó in rural Colombia, historically used by coffee farmers traveling through the mountains. Known for its durability and signature hidden pockets, the Carriel is both a practical tool and a symbol of Colombian campesino culture. He pairs it with a ruana woven in Boyacá, a highland region of the Colombian Andes known for its centuries-old weaving traditions. Ruanas are thick, poncho-like garments crafted for warmth in cold mountain climates, and remain foundational to Andean identity. This piece connects Sebastian to the textile practices of Indigenous and rural communities who have preserved these techniques for generations.
Ancestral Jewelry & Circular Meaning
Sebastian’s jewelry carries an intimate family history. He wears a necklace inherited from his great-great-grandfather, who lived in the Andean highlands of Ecuador, alongside huayruro seed jewelry from the Tsáchila people of the Amazon—seeds believed to bring protection and good fortune. Personal pieces, including rings and chains passed down through generations, reinforce sustainability through continuity by valuing objects that already hold meaning instead of acquiring something new.
Modern Circularity with Personal Touches
Sebastian balances these cultural pieces with upcycled garments and his own well-worn boots, integrating circular fashion into his everyday expression. His choices highlight a sustainability philosophy grounded not in trend but in care—repairing, reusing, and honoring garments with history. The combination creates a look that feels lived-in, intentional, and connected to the landscapes and communities that shaped him.
The Takeaway
Sebastian’s look illustrates how sustainability and cultural identity can reinforce one another. Through traditional Colombian craftsmanship, Andean weaving, Amazonian symbolism, and heirloom jewelry, he shows that fashion can be a form of storytelling—a way to keep heritage visible, protect disappearing crafts, and wear ancestry with pride. His approach aligns with BLACK PEARL’s cultural sustainability ethos: style as a bridge between past and present, carrying forward what matters while reducing the need for anything new.
