Indigenous Crafters – Competition Leads to Quality

Meet the Maker series, about the indigenous crafters we know and pay fairly.

Santhy and Nelly, pictured above with Los Andes Shop owners Debbie & Benoit Berho, are from a long line of textile crafters. 

Here, Santhy’s dad Segundo Arrellano recounts his early years.  “I would work all day long to make a wool poncho on the backstrap loom, and would receive only 1 sucre (about 15 US cents) for it.”

Not Just Any Indigenous Crafters

Like many young men from his region, Santhy left Ecuador to sell textiles abroad. He spent several years in Spain and France. His time overseas expanded his artistic vision and strengthened his entrepreneurial drive. When he returned to Ecuador, he noticed the markets of Otavalo were flooded with similar items—many of them poor quality. Facing tough competition, he set out to continue the textile tradition. But this time, with a focus on unique designs and top-quality craftsmanship.

Henceforth, his business, “Vigor: Made Better in Peguche” was born.  Peguche is a small town near the more famous city of Otavalo. Many Peguche residents create textiles and leather goods in their home workshops. His business name emphasizes 2 key differences – the quality and source – of his products.

Santhy designed hoodies with unique sleeves. The geometric patterns give a nod to the historic native designs of the Otavalo people.

Hard Work & Creativity Pay Off

He commissioned the fabric and set up shop in his home. There, he cut, printed or embroidered, and sewed the hoodies himself. His wife, Nelly, tested the quality of each fabric. She washed and dried them, discarding any that shrank or didn’t meet their standards.

Luckily, Santhy’s design flair and demand for quality caught on.  Soon, he had orders from all over the world (including Los Andes Shop).  His wife Nelly complained to Debbie that the entire house had been taken over by the business – but she was staunchly defending the kitchen space so that they could eat! Notice the bags spilling over onto their front porch below.

Santhy and Nelly’s drive, hard work, and creativity have paid off. They set out to create something better than what was generally available in Otavalo. Recently, they built a new workshop. It has plenty of space for embroidery and sublimation equipment, cutting and sewing, and even a display area.

We honor their accomplishments and are happy to stock their UNIQUE, QUALITY hoodies at Los Andes Shop. Our products are made by indigenous crafters whom we know and pay fairly.

Shop Santhy & Nelly’s Hoodies (click on image)

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Categorized in: Berho Bros, LLC, dba Los Andes Shop