Image Serelana Leather and Wool: the art of transforming the km0 wool from the Chistau Valley arrives at the San Juan de Plan Fair

Serelana Leather and Wool: the art of transforming the km0 wool from the Chistau Valley arrives at the San Juan de Plan Fair
2026/06/17

Behind every piece of authentic craftsmanship there is usually a story that deserves to be told, but the work done by the artisan Maribel Bornao, at the head of Serelana Piel y Lana, is a true tribute to tradition, ecology and family roots.

On June 20th and 21st , attendees of the Craft Fair in San Juan de Plan will have the unique opportunity to learn more about their project and discover textile creations that come directly from the heart of the Chistau Valley.

For Serelana, the concept of "zero kilometer" (km 0) is not a fad, but a circular way of life. The entire process begins on the family's own livestock farm in the valley, managed by her son. There, amidst imposing mountains and Pyrenean lakes, the sheep graze freely in an organic pasture environment.

After the herding, the artisan takes over the raw material to begin a costly, meticulous and impeccable manual work that very few still preserve: washing, carding, spinning and twisting the fiber until it is transformed into the skeins and balls that she uses in her designs.

Except for the dyeing of some specific fleeces that is acquired externally, all the value comes from her own hands and the close connection between the woman and the sheep.

Creations with soul: from the shepherd's backpack to textile art
In her exhibition space in San Juan de Plan, the artisan from Serelana will showcase a diverse range of her most unique creations, where the tradition of shepherding and innovation coexist:

  • Shepherd's backpacks : A fascinating reinterpretation of the traditional shepherd's backpack, adapted to modern times. Using sheep or goat leather and wool, the artisan creates both classic "shepherd" versions and fur-lined bag designs, ideal for everyday use.
  • Loom and wet felt paintings : Artistic pieces born from experimentation and self-learning. Among them, a very special and poetic work stands out, depicting a woman from Chistavina spinning in the middle of the valley. To achieve this, the artisan used the same wool she spins as an internal base to give volume to the figure, set against an evocative background of sky and mountains created with the wet felting technique, a skill she learned entirely on her own through experimentation.

The fair, which will bring together artisans from across the region alongside local talent, will also feature complementary activities such as wet felting workshops and live demonstrations. Undoubtedly, Serelana's participation will be one of the weekend's main attractions, an exceptional opportunity to see how the craft of spinning remains alive in the Pyrenees and how local wool is transformed into sustainable art.