Dominique Hollemart’s Patagonian-inspired journey toward sustainable design.
Starting Over in Patagonia
When Dominique Hollemart and Toti Correa sold up their lives in Santiago, Chile’s capital, and moved down south to Patagonia, she let him choose their final destination — anywhere in the south, she said, as long as it stopped short of the great ice fields. Her only stipulation was that their new livelihood be independent and, most importantly, sustainable.
Once they settled in Puerto Varas, they spent months huddled in cafés and coffee shops, brainstorming ideas for a business — what was needed, what could be unique, and what would align with their values. And all the while, as their ideas buzzed, the rain fell steadily outside.
The Spark of an Idea
In this part of Patagonia, rain is constant — more than 3,000 millimetres a year. So Dominique went in search of a good pair of wellies. What she found instead were stiff, plasticky boots — serviceable, perhaps, but soulless.
That frustration sparked an idea: comfortable, sustainable boots suited to life in the rain. Toti loved it. They needed a name quickly to register the brand, and inspiration came from a hardy local bird — the Caranca Goose (known in English as the Kelp Goose).
The adorable Caranca is one of the few bird species that doesn’t migrate north for the winter. Instead, it hunkers down along Patagonia’s coastal regions, braving the harsh winds and pelting rain by coating its feathers in natural oils — a built-in waterproofing that allows it to thrive in an environment where other species simply wouldn’t make it. Much like the rest of us down here in the south! The perfect emblem for a brand born of resilience and rootedness.
Learning, Leaps, and New Horizons
The first collection of Caranca Boots, made in Chile from up-cycled tyres, sold out quickly. With that early success came new challenges in post-sales, production scaling, and business management. The couple turned to specialists in Germany for collaboration, learning immeasurably from their expertise — lessons that eventually led Dominique to travel to Shanghai to build a more direct relationship with production.
She describes the trip as eye-opening. Initially daunted by the idea of travelling alone to China, she admits to feeling nervous about the unknown. Yet she was met with warmth, friendliness, and genuine interest in the success of her project. Overseeing production firsthand, she ensured Caranca’s sustainability standards were upheld and returned to Chile elated by an experience that proved far more inspiring than intimidating.
Recently, at a workshop showcasing women-led ventures in Patagonia — hosted by Mujeres Patagonia — Dominique shared that journey: from those early prototypes to an international collaboration rooted in integrity and care.
Coming Full Circle
Today, confident that those standards continue to be met, Caranca stands as a Patagonia-born success story — growing sustainably while staying true to its roots. Dominique and Toti are now exploring ways to upcycle their boots at the end of their lifespan, completing a truly circular economy.
Their boots carry within them one couple’s determination to make sustainability work — one idea and one storm at a time.
You can explore their designs and sustainability ethos at caranca.cl, or follow their story on Instagram at @carancaboots.
Caranca at a Glance
- Founded: Puerto Varas, Patagonia
- Founders: Dominique Hollemart & Toti Correa
- Materials: 100% recycled tyres, up-cycled rubber from other brands
- Production: Designed in Chile, manufactured in Shanghai with sustainability oversight
- Ethos: Circular economy, triple impact — environmental, social, and economic
- Symbol: The resilient Caranca Goose — native, non-migratory, and weatherproof by nature
