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Black Knotted Trousers
Made from 100% organic cotton fabric sourced from factories that work with deadstock textiles.T-
hese trousers feature pleats and an asymmetrical elastic waistband created by several strategica-
lly placed seams that symbolize knots.
This garment is created by Eulalia Mateos a fashion designer, artisan, art historian, and professor at ESI Higher School of Design in Valladolid and at the Castile and León Crafts Center. Her brand is built on the belief that each piece deserves careful reflection and its own identity — where modernity, pattern making, and craftsmanship tradition converge. She is committed to conscious, accessible, and transparent fashion, working exclusively with local suppliers and honoring the textile knowledge of her region. The piece “Black Knotted Trousers” is made in 100% organic deadstock cotton, featuring triple pleats, a generous silhouette, and an asymmetrical elastic waistband shaped by strategically placed seams that form deliberate, visible knots. The construction process involved pattern making, cutting, and extensive hands-on experimentation — allowing the garment’s conceptual language to emerge organically through the making. The knots are more than a structural detail — they are a psychological metaphor. The garment represents a mind caught in its own conflicts, moving through a process of liberation toward clarity, acceptance, and light. The knots that currently bind the form carry within them the possibility of being undone, embodying the journey of healing and transformation. The piece is part of the experimental fashion project From Darkness to Light, developed with users of the INTRAS Foundation, where design serves as a tool for therapeutic support and social inclusion. Rooted in the cultural heritage of Castile and León, the project draws a parallel between the symbolism of personal overcoming and the region’s own history of resilience — linking the transition from the shadows of mental illness to the light of social inclusion with the broader rebirth of local traditions in contemporary form. Made entirely from certified deadstock cotton and reclaimed materials, with zero or minimal waste cutting, local and ethical production, and a fully conscious manufacturing process.
In this part of the experimental fashion project “From Darkness to Light,” developed by
users of the INTRAS Foundation, we have used design as a therapeutic and social inclu-
sion tool, deeply connecting it with the local cultural heritage of Castile and León.
The project not only creates garments but also establishes a dialogue with the region’s
identity through the symbolism of transition, evoking processes of overcoming adversity
that are reflected in local history. It links this transition between the shadows of mental
illness and the light of social inclusion, similar to the rebirth of traditions in modernity.
Made with sustainable and reused materials: 100% certificated cotton headstock. All the garments were made using reclaimed materials (deadstock), instead of
manufacturing with new fabric. We used certified fabrics with trust seals and upcycled
discarded textiles.
When cutting the pieces for each garment, I aimed for zero or minimal waste to avoid
creating any unnecessary items. I implemented a conscious production process, making
each garment locally and ethically.
The process
A basic pair of trousers was made with triple pleats and a wide width to allow for seams that re-
semble knots. Experimenting with the trousers once they were made was the most fun and enjo-
yable part of the process. Pattern making on the table, cutting, and subsequent sewing were fo-
llowed by alterations and experimentation with the garment.
Our Team
The whole is much more than the sum of it’s part. Meet our team!
Users Participating in the project
Participants from a day center
Eulalia Mateos
SUPERVISOR
Fashion designer, artisan, art historian, and professor at ESI Higher School of Design in Valladolid and at the Castile and León Crafts Center. She has her own brand, a brand identified by a unique concept based on contemporary design where each piece is born from careful reflection, seeking its own identity.
We respect the art of craftsmanship, where, by combining modernity, pattern making, lines, tradi-tion, and skill, each piece achieves value.
We are committed to creating fashion consciously—fashion that is accessible, transparent, and responsible. That’s why we work with local suppliers, valuing the knowledge and tradition of the textile sector in our region.
With the support of the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
