Stories from the Amazon

The Amazon rainforest is not just where I live—it is my homeland, my territory, and the source of creation,” says Karin Cairuna with deep pride and emotion. A young woman from the Shipibo-Conibo indigenous community, Karin may appear delicate, but her resilience and inner strength shine through in the vibrant murals she paints across Lima. Alongside the Shipibo-Conibo Women’s Collective, she brings her people’s cultural heritage to life, preserving and sharing the legacy of her ancestors through powerful visual storytelling.

When I arrived in Tarapoto, a town nestled along the Amazon River, I was in search of something immense—the overwhelming vastness of untamed nature. 
My goal was to express the essence of the Spring Summer 2026 Collection within the lush backdrop of the rainforest. Through Maarten’s stunning photography, I hoped to portray the delicate harmony between culture and wilderness, evoking the spirit of femininity through powerful, atmospheric imagery. 

Surprisingly, our model, Patricia del Valle, has roots in this very region. Yet, like many first-generation Lima-born Peruvians, she revealed that she had never set foot on her family’s land. This photoshoot, then, became more than a creative project—it turned into a personal journey into her heritage.
I soon realized that this experience went far beyond capturing the Spring Summer 2026 Collection against breathtaking scenery. It was about forging a deeper connection—not only with the wild beauty of nature but also with the ancestral wisdom and enduring spirit of the women who belong to this land.