Luz Maria Torres

Colombian entrepreneur who revolutionized the textile industry through innovative sustainable practices, empowering women workers.

Luz Maria Torres (1910–1965) was a visionary Colombian business leader who transformed the textile sector by introducing eco-friendly production methods and gender-inclusive labor policies. In 1938, she founded Casa de Tejidos Torres, a company that pioneered the use of organic cotton and water-saving dyeing techniques decades before modern sustainability movements. Her 1942 report to the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce argued that ethical production could coexist with profitability, a radical idea at the time. Torres’ factories employed over 80% women, offering childcare facilities and literacy programs—policies that later inspired Colombia’s 1953 labor reforms. She famously stated, 'A thread woven with dignity becomes a revolution.'

During the 1950s coffee crisis, Torres diversified into exporting handcrafted textiles to Europe, collaborating with French designer Christian Dior. Her 1958 Vogue Paris collection showcased Andean-inspired patterns made by Indigenous artisans, challenging Eurocentric fashion norms. Though her company closed in 1965 due to political instability, her legacy persists through the Luz Maria Torres Sustainability Center in Medellín. Recent documentaries like 'Threads of Justice' (2020) have revived interest in her work, with historians calling her 'the mother of ethical fashion.'