Marina, the oldest shepherdess in Catalonia

“As long as I can be outside, in the sun, I have everything I need,” said Marina Vilalta Fajula (1927–2026), who spent almost a century among sheep and mountains.

She tried working in a factory, but the days felt far too long shut indoors. Her place was outside, with the flock, in Bruguera, at the foot of the Taga. She started herding at the age of five alongside her father and never stopped: until her final days she still took the sheep out every afternoon, in sun, rain or snow. In 2022 she received the Creu de Sant Jordi, and Bruguera named a square after her.

This April we went up to Cal Sibí to meet her. We walked with her and the flock, listened to her sing, and she told us why she never wanted any other life. We learned a great deal from Marina.

Sadly, Marina passed away on 14 September, aged 99. With great sadness we say goodbye to this extraordinary woman, as humble and generous as few are. This short documentary is our small tribute and, most likely, one of the last recordings of the woman who was the oldest shepherdess in Catalonia.

The Pastora Marina sweater

Every IAIOS sweater carries the name of a grandmother or grandfather whose story deserves to be remembered, and comes with their printed biography. This year that name is Marina. The jacquard in brown, beige and black is inspired by the traditional sweaters of rural life, and comes in three versions:

Brown jacquard button cardigan

Brown jacquard sweater

Brown jacquard zip cardigan

Last weekend we went back to Bruguera to visit Marina's family and give them the sweater that bears her name. Her son and his wife welcomed us into their home and sent us off with a box of eggs from their hens. Delicious.

Thank you to her family and to everyone who made this beautiful piece possible.