Fernando Caudet The Grandfather of Combs (1931) Estivella

In Estivella, a town of 1,200 inhabitants in Camp de Morvedre, the manufacture of horn combs was established at the beginning of the 20th century, becoming in the 1960s one of the areas with the highest production per inhabitant in all of Europe. Combs have always been valuable for their functionality and symbolic significance. Today, Fernando Caudet is the last craftsman inheriting this tradition that dates back to prehistory. Fernando was born in 1931, son of Concha Tortonda, a comb maker. He grew up playing among combs and handicrafts during the war and post-war periods, and at just 13 years old, he began as an apprentice in the "Micalet el Bolós" factory. In the 1960s, he started his own workshop, innovating production processes to compete with plastic and keep the business going when many others were closing. His combs were so successful that all production was sold before it was even made, and they were exported to countries such as France, Italy, and Germany, although his main market was Barcelona, with sales points in the city's most exclusive stores. Currently, the Estivella Town and Heritage Association has been created with the aim of preserving the memory of the comb makers, and with the project of turning the only intact factory into a museum: Fernando's. Even today, at 94 years old, our friend retains his memory intact. He is much loved, enjoys helping everyone, chatting, and sharing his knowledge. Fernando is the living legacy of an entire trade, and this jumper is a tribute to him.