It all began over 20 years ago, when Verónica, originally from Colombia, arrived in Spain and encountered an antique Manila shawl marking the beginning of her deep love story with this object. Antique Manila shawls rest, treasured, in the wardrobes of families — mainly Spanish — who have preserved them as relics. These garments reached their peak popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

From that first encounter, Verónica began studying Manila shawls, textiles, and Oriental paintings — particularly those of the Chinese dynasties — always with the intention of bringing visibility to this rich tradition and offering a modern, updated perspective on a culture that has long fascinated humanity.

In 2020, she joined forces with artist Mario Aguirre, and together they created SilkRut to showcase this cultural treasure by transforming it into a printed silk twill scarf — lightweight, wearable, and still faithful to the essence, shape, and spirit of the original shawls. SilkRut’s scarf designs SilkRut are truly unique, just as no two Manila shawls are alike — each one embroidered by different hands. All our scarves are inspired by the private collection of the Marquesado de Santa Coa..

This is how SilkRut was born a brand whose symbol is the Fu Lion, a mythical protective creature and a symbol of good fortune. The name SilkRut draws inspiration from the Silk Road, an ancient caravan route dating back to the 1st century BCE that ventured through the deserts of Central Asia, primarily driven by the trade of Chinese silk. 

The Silk Road became a marketplace for silk, carpets, lacquerware, fans, porcelain, jade, folding screens, and other goods from across Asia. It also played a vital role in the transmission and blending of diverse cultural traditions. These products eventually reached the ports of European colonies, where they caused a sensation and became integrated into local cultures, merging with native craftsmanship. 

The Manila Shawl is a remarkable example of this fusion between Asia, Iberoamérica and Spain. Thanks to the maritime trade route of the Manila Galleon — which connected the Philippines with Latin America and Spain — Spanish women transformed Chinese embroidered silk into their own beautiful Manila shawls, named after the Philippine port from which they were shipped.

The the Manila Galleon Route, also known as the Nao de Chinawas a maritime and trade route that served as a bridge across the Pacific Ocean between the Spanish colonies of the Philippines and Mexico from 1565 to 1815. It enabled and promoted this deep cultural exchange between Asia, Latin America, and Spain.

The Manila Shawl which reached the height of its popularity in Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was — like many other Oriental goods — shipped from the Spanish colony of the Philippines. Manila was the port where all the rich and exotic goods from Asia were gathered and dispatched, ultimately destined for Spain.

In the second half of the 19th century, world’s fairs — particularly the Paris Exposition of 1889 — drew visitors’ attention to Oriental art, especially Chinese and Japanese styles, bringing into vogue prints, textiles, lacquerware, and ceramics. It marked a rise in interest in chinoiserie — the European interpretation of Asian artistic traditions.

The rich, embroidered Chinese silks arrived in Spain to stay, becoming an integral part of traditional costumes in many Spanish regions.

The Manila Shawl, beyond representing the folklore and identity of traditional Spain, is a cherished garment passed down from generation to generation (as part of a bride’s trousseau), and continues to adorn major festivities.

The Antique Manila shawls contain elements from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and especially the Manchu Qing Dynasty (1644–1911), during which Chinese aesthetics catered to Western tastes through intricate, elaborate designs. These works often depicted daily life, nature, and mystical elements — creating a decorative language that bridges two worlds.