About Us
Arts of Ecuador was founded to help broaden the market for the many beautiful hand-crafted products made by the people of this extraordinary country. Jobs are scarce in most parts of Ecuador. Many families, especially in rural areas, rely on the centuries-old skills passed down for generations to produce these lovely goods to sell to the tourists who visit their local open air markets. Women, especially, have a difficult time finding regular work. As a result, much of what we import is made by women who work at home. Your purchase of our products helps to support them and their families.
Arts of Ecuador was founded by Christine and Bill Dean in the fall of 2014 with two purposes in mind: First, to help the many hard working Ecuadorian artisans who toil long hours to scratch out a living by making the hundreds of items available in the local markets found in the towns and cities throughout this fascinating country.
Second, to bring the best of these items to the millions of people who have never been to Ecuador by importing them and making them available online and in selected retail outlets. So far our effort has been limited to a few retailers in the Upper Midwest. But we are hoping to grow the business and extend our reach. We strive to pay a fair price to the artists and families who make these items, and at the same time to charge a fair price to our customers.
Bill & Christine, who are retired, have a small winter home in Cotacachi, Ecuador. Cotacachi is located in the Northern Highlands of Ecuador, about 2 hours north of the capital city of Quito. Nearby is the famous market town of Otavalo, reputed to be the largest open air traditional market in all of South America. Each year Otavalo welcomes large numbers of tourists who come to see the array of items available in the Plaza de los Ponchos, the hub around which the market stalls are found. Every day is busy in Otavalo, but every Saturday activity expands ten fold, as temporary puestos or stalls are set up displaying a dizzying variety of mostly handmade items: colorful fabrics, woven and knit clothing, jewelry, art of all sorts, ceramics, blankets, traditional indigenous wear, and much more. Cotacachi itself is famous for leather goods.
Generations of artisans have passed down the skills to their descendants, who offer their fine crafts in more than 40 leather stores on the main street of this attractive little town of 10,000. Tourists who go to Otavalo frequently make a stop in Cotacachi to see and buy the high quality, reasonably priced leather purses, bags, jackets, belts, and more. On many days it will be possible to stop for a breather and listen to traditional Andean music being offered by talented groups of indigenous musicians.
Any traveler to Ecuador who fails to schedule a visit to Otavalo and Cotacachi will miss one of the most interesting experiences of a lifetime. Here one will find a true microcosm of traditional Andean life.
