As long as I can remember, my comadre Rosa Elena has always been the backbone of her family and her rural community located in the northern Andes of Ecuador. Rosa Elena, her daughters and many women continue to be the pillars of the community where I lived many years ago. They are the entrepreneurs, the breadwinners, the caretakers, thought-partners in fixing community problems, the doers, the decision-makers, the teachers; they live and lead The Warmi Way. They taught me many powerful lessons when it comes to women leading change with themselves and how to take an obstacle and turn it into an opportunity. In Rosa Elena’s case, I learned about work ethic by simply observing her daily routine and rituals. She would awake at 4am to get her family organized, juggling multiple tasks (like most amazing women) the meals, tending to the quinoa, choclo, and haba fields along with feeding hungry guinea pigs their alfalfa; well that was my job. :) But her 4am wakeup call was also to prepare hundreds of pounds of woven goods in large sacks (costales) to transport by foot and bus to sell at the local artisan market. The Otavalo market is well known as South America’s largest art market and receives thousands of tourists per year. Unfortunately, these past months COVID has not just taken a toll on the country’s health, their small community but also on the economy. Those 4am wakeup calls continue but there is no Otavalo market, there are no tourists nor will there be for some time to come, there is no income being generated. In the past months, Rosa Elena shared with me how she is really struggling to turn this obstacle into her next opportunity. Times have been rough but Rosa Elena and others have always been entrepreneurs, solution-focused and did I mention the toughest women I know? Their inability to quit keeps them rising stronger and continues to put me in check when I think I have it hard.
Like all of us, they have had to adapt and evolve, be resourceful and reinvent their microenterprise. For many years, she has managed her own small business and employs other women to create woven bracelets; her designs have always been beautiful and consistent over the years. She has taken this time during stay at home orders, to hit pause, envision new designs, a new ‘virtual’ market, and where she would like these bracelets to land. That brings us to YOU today. They have launched a new chapter to their story and they have asked my help and your help to get the word out! I am volunteering my time, energy, and support to help them get this new project off the ground. Handmade with love from the heart of the Andes, I am thrilled to share our NEW VIRTUAL WARMI Etsy Shop with our collection of handwoven vibrant bracelets that showcase the bold women who refuse to quit in order to provide for their families and community. 100% of the sales will go directly back to the women in Ecuador which will support them during this time of economic hardship and while they aim to expand their beautiful product across borders.
Check out Warmi Etsy Shop, each bracelet carefully named in Spanish and Kichwa by the artisans. Every piece represents something quite magical; sun, moon, mountain summits, dreams, finish lines, balance, podiums, spirit, earth, warrior women y mucho más! You are going to love these, wear them as a single or as stackable bracelets. There are so many colors and so much love and positive energy is packed into each design. I have been wearing mine as a set and I use it as a reminder of my intentions, hope and hold close to my heart especially when needing a bit more protection these days.
Head on over to the Warmi Etsy Shop to order yours today! We have had triathlon teams that have placed special orders with specific colors to match their kits. I have those practicing yoga who have purchased bracelets to help bring on their OM during breathing and meditation time. You can also mix and match the way I do with my silver bangles and dress it up. It’s a fiesta on your wrist and again 100% of the sales will go directly back to the Warmis
I am also helping them do outreach with potential partnerships with brands that have similar Warmi Way Core Values. If you have any ideas please reach out to me directly!
Mil gracias for your support 💜✨
Handmade with love from the Andes,
Dana
“Detrás de una mujer poderosa se encuentra ella misma luchando contra todo cada día”
