Our process is purposefully intimate and interconnected. Since our start, we’ve collaborated with several groups of highly-skilled multigenerational artisans based in the Andes mountains of Ecuador. Our relationships have had an organic development which we treasure and deepen every day.
PLANT-FIBER BAGS
Flora de Choco
Location: Intag, Ecuador
Techniques: Cabuya fiber processing, natural dyeing, crochet weaving
Products: Bags, bucket hats
The women’s association Flora del Chocó is a group of 15+ artisans. They are carriers of the ancestral tradition of making crafts out of cabuya fiber. Cabuya is harvested from an Andean agave plant and processed manually. They use botanical dyes to give it color before hand-weaving beautiful accessories.
HANDCRAFTED HATS
Carlos and Zoila—
Location: Imbabura, Ecuador
Techniques: Wool and straw hat shaping
Carlos is the head of a family-owned hat workshop. Minga’s hats are made amongst Carlos’ children’s laughter and under their grandmother's close supervision. They shape wool and straw hats with exclusive designs for you.
HAND EMBROIDERY
Various Women's Groups—
Location: Imbabura, Ecuador
Techniques: Embroidery
Products: Clothes
Hand embroidery is a traditional technique in Imbabura with its roots beyond five generations. Women in this province embroider their own shirts with colorful patterns inspired by nature.
Our pieces are delicately hand-embroidered by indigenous women from Santa Bárbara, Angla and Ugzha in Imbabura, Ecuador.
LEATHERWARES
Paco and Family—
Location: Cotacachi, Ecuador
Techniques: Leatherwork
Products: Wallets, bag straps, hat straps, stools
Paco is a master leatherworker based in the beautiful town of Cotacachi, known for its top quality leather goods. He owns a small workshop where we meet to design the leather finishes for our accessories. His two sons are involved as well, ensuring the continuation of the family legacy.
KNITWEAR
Yoli and Team
Location: Imbabura, Ecuador
Techniques: Crochet, knitting, loom weaving, sewing
Products: Beanies, sweaters, scarves
We partner with Yoli and a small team of women knitters to create our knitwear 100% by hand using natural fiber blends like wool and alpaca. The women knitters, who all work from their homes scattered around the mountains of Imbabura, gather at Yoli's studio to work on designs.
