Natural Artisanal Products

Ecuador is famous for rich biodiversity and ancestral cultural wealth in equal measure. Its natural materials combined with artisanal craftsmanship make for a compelling proposition as the fashion industry opens up to embracing indigenous design influences and seeks alternatives for sustainable product sourcing.

The Ecuadorian artisan producers and manufacturers in this showcase recognise the opportunity and are actively seeking collaboration with global brands and retailers on the Ecuador Sourcing Hub.

Image: PRO ECUADOR

Key Exports

The top fashion export categories from Ecuador include the world famous Panama Hat. The other key export is tagua, also known as corozo and vegetable ivory. Tagua is used to make biodegradable buttons, a plastic-free alternative for brands and manufacturers. The Ecuadorian ikat weaving technique is also popular.

Image: PRO ECUADOR

Marina

The brand designs for Marina, blend the ancestral art of weaving with a sophisticated and contemporary aesthetic. Marina offers collections of Panama hats, bags and wallets made from local natural materials like toquilla straw, bamboo and wood.

The 2-year-old company works with women artisans and operates both as a brand and a supplier.

Connect with Marina on CO

Ronnel Straw Hats

Ronnel Straw Hats is a producer, wholesaler and retailer of luxury Panama hats. 100% handmade, the toquilla straw hat is made from fibres from a palm tree characteristic of the Ecuadorian coast. The hat making process takes from one day to eight months, depending on the quality and design. 

Ronnel works with artisans who deftly weave 12 to 35 straws per inch to produce hat designs for men and women.

Connect with Ronnel Straw Hats on CO

Asociación de Mujeres Agro-Artesanales

Asociación de Mujeres Agro-Artesanales aka AMA is an association of women entrepreneurs based in the El Oro province of Ecuador. It supports the production and sales of handcrafted items made only using banana fibre. 

The women artisans, operating from their homes obtain 90% of the sale value of the product. AMA’s product range includes bags and wallets, headwear, homeware and gift items.

Connect with AMA on CO

Tania Francisca Arte y Diseño

A co-operative comprising Ecuadorian artisans, artists and designers, Tania Francisca Arte y Diseño makes 100% handmade jewellery.

The group is committed to recovering ancestral designs, combined with a modern sensibility and created using recycled materials from local industry waste such as copper and wood. 

Connect with Tania Francisca Arte y Diseño on CO

Tagualand

The tagua nut, also called vegetable ivory, is unique to the South American rainforest. An exporter of tagua jewellery and Panama hats, Tagualand works with experienced artisans who design models, keeping the natural lines of the tagua nut intact. The producer uses nickel-free accessories and organic colours for the jewellery and works on customised design orders for overseas clients. 

Connect with Tagualand on CO

Ecuadorian Hands

A manufacturer of Panama hats and tagua jewellery, Ecuadorian Hands is keen to protect the country’s ancestral knowledge. The company wholesales and retails summer hats in a variety of styles for men and women. The tagua jewellery designs are customisable for client orders.

Connect with Ecuadorian Hands on CO

Trafino

A sustainable option to the ubiquitous plastic button, Tagua blanks are exported by Trafino to button manufacturers across four continents. The artisans at Trafino manually slice the dried tagua fruit into individual discs called blanks, a raw material for button manufacturers, who shape them into the design and colour as per the brand requirement.

Watch the video to learn more.

Connect with Trafino on CO

Armadillo Stores

Armadillo Stores is a fair trade and ethical enterprise employing and promoting the work of women artisans in remote regions of the Andes in Ecuador. The product range includes ponchos, bags and blankets. 

The bags, called Shigras are painstakingly hand-woven using a weaving technique that can take up to 16 weeks. The material comes from the Cabuya plant, also known as agave.

Connect with Armadillo Stores on CO

Maki Fair Trade

Maki Fair Trade is a wholesaler and retailer of a broad range of 100% handmade items created using popular Ecuadorian techniques like straw hat making and ikat designs. The product range includes garments, bags, scarves and toquilla straw hats. 

As a member of the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO), the co-operative facilitates the sale of items made by rural women artisans.

Connect with Maki Fair Trade on CO

Karffany by Jacqueline Muñoz

A manufacturer, specialising in winter wear for women, Karffany by Jacqueline Muñoz offers two product lines. While Karffany is a classic range made with cotton, Jacqueline Muñoz is a boho line made from Alpaca, sourced from the Andes. 

From jackets to ponchos and scarves, the designs incorporate Ecuadorian ancestral images and coloured edges that symbolise nature.

Connect with Karffany on CO

This showcase has been presented in association with PRO ECUADOR. The trade body is part of the Vice Ministry for the Promotion of Exports and Investment under the Government of Ecuador.