In keeping with this week’s circus theme, Kyle Younker interviews Arnoldo Iriarte, whose shoemaking career, started at the age of 14, has taken an unconventional turn.

Imagine someone has made a patchwork quilt out of different types of floral, stripy and shiny lycra. No imagine that this person has taken a look at their creation and thought: “you know what? This would look really good as a pair of knickers”.

“Alpargatas sí, libros no!” said Juan Domingo Perón in an appeal against universities’ elitism and expressing his favour for salt-of-the-earth blue collar work. This is what alpargatas, the ubiquitous Argentine take on the espadrille, have symbolised for almost two centuries.

The season ahead is looking dark. Autumn and winter fast approaching, Argentina is gearing up to face the chill in heavy fabrics, a monochromatic palette and with die-hard allegiance to punk-inspired fashion. The three days of the 2010 autumn/winter edition of Buenos Aires Fashion Week showcased collections which are testament to the city’s rising recognition and status amongst the world’s style capitals.