Today we’d like to introduce you to Harry and Bethany La Mota.
Harry and Bethany, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
We are a small family owned business from Ecuador. Our main products are handmade toquilla straw hats and Palo Santo. My father grew up in this traditional Ecuadorian business. His grandfather Carlos Barberan was one of the pioneers in the manufacturing and distribution of the famous “Panama” Hat originally from Ecuador. He handcrafted these fine hats. After his passing my family has continued to work with the same families in Montecristi, Ecuador. My father has always wanted to carry on his family’s legacy. When we moved to the states, that dream was put aside as he had to work in other fields to take care of us. He always tried to keep up with his original plan. After a few years of learning the internet, studying the market and networking my father now has a successful online business. We now offer Palo Santo, Palo Santo products, and other Ecuadorian and Andean handmade items. Our inspiration stems from our great grandfather and my family’s desire to share our beautiful tradition and culture with the world. Our goal now is to move even further here in San Diego and other parts of the west coast by being face to face with our customers and being able to make personal connections.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
After we moved to the U.S. from Guayaquil, it was difficult for my dad to start this business. I was only 12 years old at the time and my sister 7 years old. He and my mom had to work long hours and the business was put on the back burner. The language barrier also made things hard at first.
Tell us about your business.
Our main products are handmade toquilla straw hats and Palo Santo. The crafting of the hats has been in our family for decades. They are the original “Panama” hats made famous by Theodore Roosevelt. Palo Santo and the use of the “holy wood” is a sacred tradition shared by Ecuadorians and other South American communities. What sets us apart is our bulk prices for Palo Santo. We sell by the pound and half a pound. We also offer Palo Santo flakes, shavings and cones. All of the wood is used and none goes to waste. What makes us proud is our products are from Ecuador and are made by Ecuadorians. We have been working with the same families for over 40 years. We can give our customers the best prices and give back to our communities in our country.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My entire family deserves credit. My grandmother, who still has her storefront at the airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador and the extended family that we work with. The families that still make the fine hats by hand and continue to teach their children the craft. The families that sustainably harvest and cure the Palo Santo and the Andean indigenous communities that create authentic handcrafts.
Pricing:
- Handmade Hats $35
- 1lb Ecuadorian Palo Santo Sticks $28
Contact Info:
- Website: palosantoecuador.com
- Email: ecuanaturalsd@gmail.com
- Instagram: @ecuanatural
- Other: www.etsy.com/shop/lmecuanaturalllc
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