11 years ago, my co-founder Karla Gallardo @kggallardo, had the dream to make and deliver products differently. She started with the Panama* Hat, a product she witnessed, throughout her upbringing in Ecuador, being made with love but misrepresented by global markets. She witnessed how these hats, misnamed and anonymous, would arrive in the US without any celebration of their journey, devoid of all the meaning and beauty that went into its crafting. She began Cuyana with the wish to make “made in Ecuador” alongside every other country where pieces were made with love, something to celebrate instead of something so easily forgotten. With this campaign, we’re reclaiming the important power that product origin holds. It’s imperative to know where one’s products come from because this cognizance is the differentiator between informed choices and anonymous consumption. This knowledge is power. The Panama* Hat story is one of generations of indigenous artisans passing down their weaving traditions, thousands of hours of skilled labor, and an ongoing battle against misrepresentation. It is a story that makes the Panama* Hat mean something, that takes a product from a commodity to a treasure. From an unknown entity to a known truth. From foreign to familiar. A story that when told correctly will result in greater value for products, increased wages, and more tourism for Ecuador. Celebrating heritage is at the core of who we are @cuyana and who @kggallardo and I are as individuals. Our cultures matter and deserve to be recognized correctly. It is not lost on me that there are many issues threatening our rights as women and as people right now. There is no “perfect time” to make this request. You can help make this change- a seemingly small one for most of you, but a deeply impactful one for Ecuador and indigenous communities. Join us by signing a petition to demand global retailers change the name of the Panama* Hat’s name to reflect its rightful history. Link in bio. *This is a hat handwoven with love, in Ecuador. #ThisIsNotAPanamaHat