Handmade with love from the heart of the Andes, shop our new arrivals, stock up on the best gifts from embroidered masks, woven bracelets, tassel earrings and embroidered pouches! 100% of the sales will go directly back to the indigenous artisans. As the WARMI word spreads and sales increase, the Warmis will be able to employ more women, advancing themselves and others to greatness.
Over twenty years ago, I served and lived in this rural, artisan community in the northern Andes of Ecuador, supporting the WARMIS leadership development initiatives. Living and working alongside the WARMIS, I gained their love and respect as together we experienced moments of empowerment and powerlessness and learned how women can address, motivate, overcome, and achieve what they want when they put their minds to it. The WARMIS were part of the first expedition of indigenous women to reach the summit of Volcano Cotopaxi, the highest most active volcano in the world, 19,347 feet above sea level. Self-belief, teamwork, and knowing their WHY propelled them up their mountain path, breaking trail and barriers celebrating women worldwide. The WARMIS and I did not leave it all out there on the mountain, 20+ years later we are climbing our new metaphorical mountain; a grassroots, small-business enterprise, employing Andean indigenous women in Ecuador. The WARMI Project Collection: handmade, woven bracelets, embroidered masks, wrap scarves, and multicolor tassel earrings representing the vibrant & beautiful culture in the Andes, along with the strength, wisdom, and courage of each WARMI involved in the project.
These makers, movers, and shakers continue to be the pillars of the community. They are the entrepreneurs, thought-partners in fixing community problems, the doers, the decision-makers, the caretakers, the leaders; they live and lead THE WARMI WAY. They model the core values on how successful women navigate this world uplifting their female counterparts to push for a more equal society.
Supporting indigenous women in Ecuador through sales of vibrant handmade accessories, join us at the Warmi Etsy Shop!
Abrazos,
Dana
WARMI EMBROIDERED MASKS
Handmade masks with stunning embroidery, soft, breathable, yet fitted with 3 layers for extra protection, shine bright in these gems.
WANT TO BE INSPIRED? CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO ON HOW THE WARMI MASKS ARE MADE!
WARMI WOVEN BRACELETS
Each bracelet carefully named by the artisans in Spanish & Kichwa inspired Andean designs with empowering names to uplift and remind you of your strength.
WARMI MULTICOLOR TASSEL EARRINGS
Light as can be but packed with a powerful punch of color, zest, energy, forward fashion highlighting South American color and culture.
Get to know the WARMI artisans and their leadership:
Rosa Elena, our lead bracelet designer was illiterate, never received more than a 3rd grade education as a child. After being forced to drop out of school as a little girl to work, she went back to school as an adult to get her elementary school degree and went on to become the first female President of her community. Rosa Elena, together with her friend Dona Isabel were the first 2 indigenous women recorded to summit the world’s highest most active volcano Cotopaxi 19,437 feet above sea level. Check out the Sinchi WARMI (Strong Woman) bracelet, that was designed with Rosa Elena in mind.
Rosa Elena’s daughter, Paulina (Pacha (Earth) in Kicwha) the Director of The WARMI Project in Ecuador was the first female to graduate high school and college from her community. She studied bilingual Kichwa-Spanish education, something that was non-existent in the rural communities years ago. At 23, Paulina wrote her first Kichwa-Spanish book for fourth graders and won an award from the Ministry of Culture. Seven years later Paulina became the first female from her community to get her Master’s degree in Cultural Studies. Paulina is now employed by an Ecuadorian University training and teaching Professors on bilingual education and cultural studies. Check out the Luna (Moon) bracelet designed by Paulina.
Rosa Elena’s other daughter Anita, our lead for embroidery mask designs, is obtaining her degree in Education as well and is the proud mother of two sons, who are my godsons as well! Anita began her studies and then COVID hit and she has had to adapt to this new virtual space of getting her degree while raising her boys as a single mother, she is a true warrior. Check out the Samay ( Spirit in Kichwa) bracelet designed after her son. If you haven’t read our blog Quinoa Soup for the Soul, on women’s rights, take a look, Anita now all grown up was the same little girl in the blog who read the code of women's rights for the first time in her community when we were working to raise awareness and spark change on girls and women’s rights. 20+ years later, Anita is still at it, acting as a role model for other women.
