Bio
After studying Beaux Arts in Buenos Aires and graduating from New York’s Parsons School of Design, Paula Martini settled in the quaint fishing village of José Ignacio, Uruguay. Together with her husband, Martín Pittaluga, they opened Bajo el Alma, a restaurant & shop ensemble that soon became synonymous with José Ignacio and sparked the town’s metamorphosis fully capturing its essence and charm. It was in Bajo el Alma that Paula showcased her initial production of hand knit sweaters along with silk camisoles for the summer months.
Paula’s signature knitwear design is intimately laced with the José Ignacio way of life. For years, the actual garment production process was synched with the village’s seasonal existence. Autumn was the time for ideas, Winter for knitting, Spring for dying and Summer for sharing them with the world. Her favorite stage was Spring when, being the true artist that she is, she tirelessly experimented with dyes, textures and trimmings, breathing life to the garments.
In YEAR, she partnered with interior designer Patricia Torres and opened SantasNegras, a two-story exquisitely curated concept store & café, featuring vintage furniture, decorative objects, dyed hand-knit sweaters and spirited jewelry. To date, SantasNegras is a José Ignacio style beacon year round.
From her brand new headquarters in Buenos Aires, Paula focuses on furnishing new interpretations of centuries-old techniques on her knitwear. She is fascinated by the endless possibilities of texture, color and composition technique to create items of style, comfort and warmth.
Paula’s signature knitwear design is intimately laced with the José Ignacio way of life. For years, the actual garment production process was synched with the village’s seasonal existence. Autumn was the time for ideas, Winter for knitting, Spring for dying and Summer for sharing them with the world. Her favorite stage was Spring when, being the true artist that she is, she tirelessly experimented with dyes, textures and trimmings, breathing life to the garments.
In YEAR, she partnered with interior designer Patricia Torres and opened SantasNegras, a two-story exquisitely curated concept store & café, featuring vintage furniture, decorative objects, dyed hand-knit sweaters and spirited jewelry. To date, SantasNegras is a José Ignacio style beacon year round.
From her brand new headquarters in Buenos Aires, Paula focuses on furnishing new interpretations of centuries-old techniques on her knitwear. She is fascinated by the endless possibilities of texture, color and composition technique to create items of style, comfort and warmth.