Isabel De Estrada

This BEA muse is a very special one. Our encounter seemed one architected by the stars, picture the situation: a charming Argentinian lady walks into the studio, her aura and smile so delightful, the sweetest of souls. She introduces herself as Isabel, and tells us that she was struck by the Gorilla print of our BEAst mode collection because she has her very own monkey - Coco, back home!? We start chatting about all things regarding animals, and she wants to know everything about our project & the inspiration behind our illustrations. 

Turns out that Isabel is a journalist, decoration and architecture were her great passions for more than two decades - her work was published in books & magazines all around the world. Then one day, more or less ten years ago, she started writing her story all over again with the founding of Fundacion Zorba.

We met a couple of weeks after our first meeting at Archivio di Monserrato - an enchanting boutique next door to our studio owned by Isabel’s dear friend Soledad. Here we got to know more about Isabel’s NGO, to chat about how raising awareness about animal struggles is fundamental, and she tried on our new loungewear collection. 

You’ve come a long way - from interior design & architecture to animal rescue. How did it happen?

We used to spend our family holidays in the countryside. My mothers side of the family owned a house on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, in the south of the Province of Buenos Aires. There I used to save all the animals I could. I remember that sometimes pingüins, or Marine elephants would come out of the sea tired or ill, I was there, ready to help them. I used to race rheas (or ñandúes in Spanish), birds, rabbits, everything. And the first time I was on a horse was when I was three years old. Going from one passion to another was a very natural transition. A change of course that happened in a very sensitive moment of my life, which helped to open my eyes and start seeing the animal suffering. Another important factor was that I was given a Dog (a Labrador called Zorba in homage to the Katzansaki book “Zorba el Griego”) that unfortunately died when he was only two years old. That day I promised myself that one day I would create a Foundation to help all animals, and I would name it Zorba - I kept my word and did it.

Were you brought up in an animal loving home?

My family was not a particular animal loving one, but they did all love the countryside. I think that those months we spent each year in such an incredible biodiverse world beside the sea, was when my connection with the animal kingdom was made, and what evoked my love for the animals forever.

Do you still write about architecture & design, or more about animals now?

I always enjoyed working for magazines, and as a matter of fact my first animal stories were actually published by interior design magazines! It was my world. Then a moment arrived when I was more and more involved with animals, and I had very little time to do anything else. Regardless, I am still very influenced by the interiors world, in the way I visualise things, an example would be the suffering of the greyhounds which I always try to show through their beauty. Like you guys do with your clothes. I believe that through channels like these and art, we can change people's consciousness. 

Besides all of this, I find that the most superb beauty is in animals: colours, shapes, design…

Your home is an animal sanctuary, how many animals are on the property at the moment?

Yes. It’s a horse Sanctuary. I have 40 animals on premises right now.

What kind of animals?

I have 20 greyhounds that were used for races, and 12 horses saved from slaughter. The horses came from different disciplines like polo, races, rodeo, carriages. I have Cocks that were saved from cock fights, and then there’s Coco, my little Caraya monkey.

Tell us Coco’s story.

Coco was found inside a wardrobe of a house when during a party, they were looking for drugs. Coco's bones have been literally broken, and he is a quarter the size he should be. He can’t climb and he can’t use his hands and legs well. These kinds of monkeys are from the North of Argentina. Coco is a case of fauna traffic, but they have treated him so badly, that Argentine society was shocked by his case.

‘Espiritu Zorba’ is a project within your NGO - tell us about this, and all the different projects you work on at Fundacion Zorba.

“Espiritu Zorba” is a project created with my sister Clara, for Fundacion Zorba. She is a photographer, so we take photos of animals picturing them in their brightest moments. Then  we explain the struggles and problems that particular kind or species is facing. We sell the photographs to help Fundacion Zorba, and at the same time create awareness. 

With regards to the work we do at the foundation, one of the first challenges we faced was discovering greyhound races and creating a law that banned them. Our horse related projects instead have a very specific purpose: saving as many horses as possible from slaughter, and to create laws that forbid it. We also work a lot to visit zoos all around Argentina, checking the life standards wild animals live in, and taking them out of the zoos and into Sanctuary’s when necessary.

What would you say are the best ways to get involved in animal rescue and animal preservation?

It’s difficult to say the best way, but I think the most important is education in schools, with very young children. Knowledge in young kids creates awareness for the future.

What are the things that should change in the culture of people - Things we can do in our everyday life to help animals' wellbeing.

I think it’s important not to eat meat. If any of us would make that decision, it’ll solve a lot of problems. I think we have to be careful with everything we buy. To be aware, besides that, if animal suffering is involved. Not to go to zoos, or to a camel, or elephant rides, or aquariums, between other things. 

Our BEAst mode collection Is an ode to 7 endangered species, through unique illustrations of animals/beasts we represent their different stories and struggles. Clearly it was the Gorilla print that struck your attention the most.

In your opinion, what animal should be included in our BEAst mode collection? What should our next BEAst print be?

I would love it to be the puma. I like the feline details and energy in the shirt, and the pants. To give you a bit more context, the puma is our local feline - in Argentina, and they are having a very complicated time caused by hunting, poaching and deforestation. 

Did you find that the outfits you wore were comfortable?

Yes, absolutely. I really enjoyed wearing them - super comfortable!

Which look did you like the most?

I loved the one with the elephants. I found it super nice, loved the colours and the fit. This print is also very significant for me right now, because we are working to move all elephants we know of from Argentina, to a Sanctuary in the Mato Grosso area in Brazil, where they will finish their life in peace, living in a place that resembles their place of origin.

Isabel has a very solemn and clear purpose: to help as many animals as she can, and to work for a change in the Justice system. Because unfortunately in Argentina - as in many other countries of the world, animals are still considered as objects and they are not recognized as legal subjects. 

One animal at the time, she slowly yet steadily tries to make the world a better place. Spreading the word and filling that large gap made by the lack of education and empathy, towards the original kings & queens of this earth - the animals. 

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