MEET THE MAKERS

#6 Cristina & Maria Rosa – Founders of Wanahat, handcrafted hats with a story to tell For the sixth episode of Meet the Makers podcast I had the pleasure to interview Cristina and Maria Rosa, founders of Wanahat, handcrafted Panama hats with a story to tell… Cristina and Maria Rosa are both originally for Ecuador and living in Miami. They started the amazing project of working with artisans from Ecuador 7 years ago with the objective to promote the country they are from and to support this unique tradition. They Give awareness, they educate but also give back to the communities. The Panama Hats comes from Ecuador where they are made with one of the finest palm: the toquilla palm and handmade by expert artisans. For the little story the name of the hat does not comes from the country it is from but from the fact that the president Roosevelt took a picture wearing it while he was doing a visit for the construction of the canal in Panama. This hat required a complex production process with at least 16 different steps and unique expertise. “Wana” means weave in Ecuadorian indigenous language, the quechua. It is a story of legacy, tradition, know-how and humanity. They will introduce themselves as well as their brand, explaining us how they started, made it grow, passing by all the production process and knowledge about the hats. They will also make us discover more about this beautiful country that is Ecuador finishing by some tips as an entrepreneur.

I am very excited to share with you in this fifth episode the story of Nayla, the owner of a luxury and ethical sandal brand named by her name: Nayla. After doing marketing studies and being product development manager for the luxury fashion brand Theory, Nayla created in 2018 her own footwear brand whose name fully represents her identity. The brand emphasizes the concept of a footwear collection of sandals meeting the requirements of luxury, sustainability, and versatility. Eco innovation is at the heart of the brand. All sandals are carefully handcrafted and classify as chic and versatile. This brand is both ecofriendly and environmentally focused. By emphasizing sustainability I wish to raise a new wave of of social and environmental awareness. I love the bridge that she built between sustainability and design. Her brand is clearly inspired by the place she lives in Miami and its colorful art deco architecture. She did a huge work in terms of sourcing of eco-friendly materials, and she will explain in the episodes the 3 main components she is using: the wild rubber, the pineapple leather, and the fish scales. Being sustainable and fashionable match together. I loved her dedication in creating an association in order to support local communities. She wants to be aware, handle and master all the aspect of the brand and make sure that all the process is right and fair. Nayla will speak about her story, her brand, she will go in details into the materials she is using, before to talk about how she visions her brand in the future. I hope you will enjoy discovering about her incredible brand.

For the fourth episode of Meet the Makers podcast, I had the honor of interviewing Adriana Castro, a fashion designer from Colombia and the creator of her eponymous brand Adriana Castro. Adriana is the kind of woman that radiates an all room with her energy and a great vibe. She is elegant, she is fearless, she is feminine, she is delicate. Her vision for her handbags and accessories design is influenced by who she is as a woman. Her brand is aligned with her values, philosophy and lifestyle. Her passion for fashion and bags started at a young age and that she finally jumped completely into it later on. Adriana welcomes all new experiences and thinks that there is no failure, only trials and successes. I had been stunned by the importance she gives to storytelling, culture and know-how. I am happy that you will be able to discover as much as I did. Everything she shares about her experience as a designer working with indigenous communities is incredible. I also particularly enjoyed the transparency she gives on her entrepreneur life, brand growth and challenges she had to face. Let’s discover the incredible journey of Adriana Castro.

For the third episode, meet Victoria Cooper, a creative Italian living in Miami and the co-founder of Capsool, a vintage, sustainable and genderless mobile and online store. Victoria comes from Napoli, a beautiful city in Italy where creativity is everywhere and, where she had been highly inspired. After her move to the US where she felt more in tune with as a model and photographer, she co-found Capsool. She sources high quality vintage and secondhand clothes in Italy, and in more than a conscious and incredible selection, she often upcycles them! Their Airstream mobile store concept make them unmatched and unique! Victoria believe that you always have to challenge yourself otherwise your dreams stay ideas Capsool, as a sustainable brand creates designs from recycled clothes and fabrics. She does not see sustainability as a trend but as a lifestyle. As a vintage store, the selection is conscious, avant gardiste and high hand. The philosophy is to express yourself with no genders and limits. Her vision is to feel free on wearing what you want and feel good and confident. We just cannot get enough of it! Feel inspired by Victoria’s mindset and vision on sustainability, overcoming obstacles and becoming what you really want.

I am very excited to share with you in this second episode the story of Melissa, a young fashion designer and the creator of MUNAI. She makes us travel back to Bolivia, her natal country and the place of birth of MUNAI. She’s a very determined and lively person, as well as very passionate about her job. She grew up in Bolivia with a Bolivian dad and an American mom, and she traveled to Miami at the age of 18 to study in the Miami University of Art and Design. Melissa thinks that you know in your heart if you want to do something for the world, and if it is the case, just go with the flow and be fearless. Not forgetting her roots, she goes back her natal country to travel all around it and discover the rich heritage of her ancestors. She also goes back to school in Bolivia and learns the hard way to understand the smallest details of traditional handicrafts from her country. Her mission is to not only help artisans from her country, but to also help women by making them feel beautiful and improving their quality of life, providing them new opportunities where they can develop their talents. We are truly inspired by Melissa, her story and the work she has done with her roots.

For the first episode of Meet the Makers podcast, I had the honor of interviewing Alyssa Mc Gary. Alyssa, well-known as @alyssaya on Instagram, is the owner of Hiptipico, an ethical fashion brand based in Guatemala, empowering indigenous artisans. Alyssa believes that none of us can stop occupying spaces of privilege, but we can elevate voices of those who do not get to be there. Over the past 10 years she has lived and worked in Guatemala alongside indigenous artisans and storytelling about her personal experiences. She quickly learned how to harness the power of social media in order to reach a conscious audience. Today in more than her own brand, she manages Instagram accounts for various clients all with 25k+ engaged followers. I had been especially touched by her authenticity and dedication in helping communities that are facing poverty. During our conversation Alyssa will: 1/ Introduce herself and speak about her background, 2/ Introduce the brand she created, Hiptipico 3/ Give recommendation for people who want to work with indigenous people 4/ Speak about this beautiful country that is Guatemala 5/ Share her experience on social medias To discover more about Alyssa: www.alyssaya.com, www.hiptipico.com Instagram: @alyssaya, @hiptipico, @ayacreativa To discover more about Meet the Makers Podcast: Website: www.ethnycorner.com Blog: www.ethnyblog.com Instagram: @ethny_corner I will be glad to have your feedback, do not hesitate to contact me at info@ethnycorner.com