Paraguayan haute couture designer Ati Troche, known for her atelier Ati Troche, says she always prioritizes family despite a demanding career. In an interview with Ultima Hora, Troche described her three children—Ernestina, 43; Facundo, 37; and Teresita Vargas, 33—as her greatest creations. Among them, Ernestina has chosen to follow her mother into fashion design, sharing both the craft and a unified vision for their workshop.
Troche credits Ernestina as her “cable a tierra” (grounding force), handling the administrative and creative agenda of the business. Raised in a household full of men, Troche initially worked in other fields, including five years as director of public relations and protocol for Paraguay’s Vice Presidency and Presidency. Yet, she notes, “siempre trato de priorizar a la familia” (I always try to prioritize family).
Her passion for design runs in the family: her mother and grandmother sewed, and her grandmother’s sisters were involved in haute couture—one embroidered, another ran a workshop in Buenos Aires specializing in bridal and godmother attire. Troche inherited this taste and skill, becoming a leading figure in local fashion. She has passed that legacy to Ernestina, with whom she now works side by side, complementing each other’s tasks.