Our story

Founded by Colombian and Chilean Sustainable Designer and Pattern Cutter Jennifer Droguett Espinosa in 2019, as a homage to her South American heritage. After living outside Colombia for two decades, Jennifer’s returned to her roots. Her label Anciela gets its name from her grandparents, ANgel and GraCIELA.

Jennifer grew up in the vibrant city of Medellin surrounded by beautiful nature, culture and joyful people. However, in the 2000s after the city of Medellin had become extremely dangerous, her family took the hard but inevitable decision to move to Chile, where Jennifer’s dad is from. Jennifer graduated from AMFI in Amsterdam and has been working in London and Amsterdam as a Fashion Designer and Pattern cutter for over 10 years for brands including Viktor & Rolf, House of Holland, Sadie Williams, Richard Malone and Phoebe English
ANCIELA is the culmination of the Latin folklore, craft and rich experiences of a childhood combined with an outsider’s perspective gained from leaving the homeland and living in London. Taking inspiration from art, literature and historical costumes, the brand offers re-worked tailoring and eccentric Ready-To-Wear interwoven with a hint of the magical.
ANCIELA designs with circularity from the beginning of the process, using and applying recycling, upcycling and regenerative techniques, delivering beautifully hand-crafted designs that are friendly to our planet. The brand empowers consumers and makers to embrace conscious consumption practices through education and innovative technologies like AR, workshops and panel talks. The brand actively supports diverse Latinx creatives by using fashion as a platform to showcase Latin/British culture and working closely with charities and non-profits from the diaspora.
The brand has been featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar,  L’officiel, Metal, Kaltblut and Forbes, among other independent publications.

Jennifer was part of the Panel Discussion: Illuminate the Art of Sustainable Fashion, exploring the delicate intersection of creativity, art, technology, and sustainability. Moderated by Ms Karen Ho, Head of Corporate and Community Sustainability, WWF-Hong Kong.

Jennifer talked about the importance of collaborative pragmatism through an interactive approach to fashion by sharing Anciela’s collaboration with the Design Museum shown in the context of London Design Festival and London Fashion Week, and how creating inclusive spaces to educate consumers using tools such as digital product passports, immersive installations and empathy will be key to growing a responsible Fashion brand.

Jennifer was invited to speak on the panel “Wear the Change” with Liv Simpliviano, Policy and Research manager at Fashion Revolution , Shakaila Forbers-Bell, Fashion Psychologist and Author of “Big Dress Energy” and Sustainability pioneer and Founder of Black Pearl, Samata Pattinson.
Overheated is an event bringing together climate activists, musicians, thinkers and designers to discuss the climate crisis and the work that is making a meaningful difference. Created by Support+Feed founders Maggie Baird and Billy Eilish. Jennifer addressed the 500 visitors to explain sustainable practices as a Fashion brand and Designer and the importance of a clean supply chain, and how to choose ethical fashion as a consumer—featuring Incredible environmental activists, indigenous leaders, and inspirational talent including Alice Aedy, Brother Spirit of Plum Village, Dominique Palmer, and Tori Tsui.

Jennifer had the privilege of delivering a talk about her work as a sustainable Designer over the last 10 years and our shared responsibility towards our ecosystems and redefining our role during this climate emergency. Invited by the British Embassy and H.E. Mr. John Gallager, British Ambassador to Armenia. Facilitated by FASHION SCOUT and the Fashion and Garment Chamber of Armenia.

A discussion on Circular Fashion in the UK and Hong Kong with Dr. Christina Dean, Orsola de Castro, Alex Adamson and Rosette Ale. Jennifer representing UK sustainable fashion as part of the Great Campaign trade mission supported by the British Consulate General, Redress and HKTDC.  

The Foundation Entre Soles y Lunas, through its program Universo MOLA, the Latin American Sustainable Fashion Movement, in collaboration with the Consulate of Colombia in London and the Embassy of Uruguay in London, hosted these fashion talks with key speakers and a networking space to create bridges between Latin America and the UK.