Ecuador And Fashion
Ecuador And Fashion

Video: Ecuador And Fashion

Video: Ecuador And Fashion
Video: Ecuador's MOST Unusual Part #1: San Lorenzo de Manabí (2021) 2024, March
Anonim

With the large number of brands that exist in the market today, only those that go beyond having good designs are those that last. That is something that Ecuadorian designers Laura Carrión and Carmen Correa are very clear about.

Both friends were born in Ecuador where they grew up with the wonderful culture of their country: the landscapes, the crafts, the colors and the people. Years after each one set out on different paths, they met again in New York and united their talent for design and their love for their country to create the KON-DOR brand.

KON-DOR focuses on creating bags and accessories while supporting and working with the neediest in Ecuador. Through their work, they support communities of artisans who make their textiles and the handles of their wallets and avoid mass production to ensure that workers' wages and quality of life are adequate.

KON-DOR
KON-DOR

What does the name KON-DOR mean?

When we chose the name we wanted something representative of the Ecuadorian Andean culture. Since ancient times, the condor has been a fascination for the peoples of the Ecuadorian highlands and has become a symbol of our country. Ecuador is and will always be the main inspiration of our brand, so choosing a name that sounds like an animal as majestic and unique as the condor was something that emerged and worked since it means so much to our people and consequently to us.

What type of woman do they design for?

We design for free-spirited, independent women who enjoy art, fashion, music and traveling.

kondor-5-copy
kondor-5-copy

Why did you decide to emphasize the handles?

Each handle that becomes a strap is made by an Ecuadorian craftsman, each carries a story and gives a special touch to each wallet. It is very difficult to find two equal handles. What I mean is that finding two exactly the same KON-DORs is almost mission impossible. We wanted each wallet, like every woman who wears it, to have its own identity.

thani_black_3
thani_black_3

They work with artisans, explain to us why they chose to do it and why it is important to you and your brand

Little by little we have seen how artisans stop dedicating themselves to their work since they do not find the same opportunities as before with their creations. We wanted to support the art of artisans with our work and thus try to keep their work and culture alive.

How does Ecuador influence their designs and the way they make their bags?

We grew up around so much culture and art that it was impossible not to take advantage of this when designing. KON-DOR is a contemporary brand that mixes materials from our country with world-class materials of the best quality. It is a luxury piece with details made by hand by the best artisans in Ecuador. Each KON-DOR has something from where we came from and gives each piece a unique identity.

Why did you choose to put positive phrases inside the bags?

We know that words have unimaginable power and we wanted to take advantage of this by empowering all women who wear a KON-DOR with positive phrases. By reading something positive consciously or unconsciously you can train the mind to have a good self-esteem and to accept all the good things that a woman has and is. We are all beautiful and unique in our own way but from time to time we need something or someone to remind us of it. We wanted our wallets to not only be a fashion accessory but an accessory that can influence your daily thoughts in a positive way.

blue_anku1
blue_anku1

Some of the proceeds are donated to different charities, do they tell us which ones they donate and why?

It is very important for us to return the blessings that life has given us, so having a greater cause than ourselves is part of what Kon-Dor is. Being a new brand has been very difficult since positioning itself in the minds of the consumer and the market has been a great challenge, but we have found a way to not only support the artisans we work with but also make small donations to charities such as orphanages. A year ago we managed to donate vaccines for orphaned children living with HIV and in December we donated products for daily use to the same institution. We hope that with the growth of our brand our donations can grow in the same way.

What can we expect from KON-DOR in the future?

KON-DOR plans to incorporate new fabrics and styles to integrate more women into this movement. We want to take advantage of everything that our native country offers us and share it with the world. We want people to learn more about Ecuador through our designs and products.

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