Imilla by Luisa Dörr

Bolivian polleras, voluminous skirts traditionally associated with Indigenous women of the highlands, were for decades a symbol of uniqueness and an object of discrimination. Now, a new generation of women skaters in Cochabamba wear them as an emblem of resistance. Although the garment was initially imposed by Spanish colonizers on the native population, over the centuries it became integrated into local identity as an ambivalent symbol of both authenticity and stigmatization.

Rediscovering polleras in the wardrobes of aunts and grandmothers seemed the obvious choice for Dani Dani Santiváñez, a young Bolivian skater who, seeking to reconnect with her roots in 2019, created ImillaSkate. Imilla means “girl” in Aymara and Quechua, the two most widely spoken languages in Bolivia, where more than half of the population has Indigenous roots. The nine women who currently make up the group wear polleras only when skating. Knee-length and paired with sneakers, these skirts symbolize the decision not to give up their culture. Through this practice, they convey their message of inclusion and acceptance of diversity.

This free exhibition at the Golfes gallery is made possible thanks to the collaboration between the International Photography Festivals Association (IPFA) and the Biennale della Fotografia Femminile in Mantua, Italy.

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