OUR STORY
Founder:
Meraki Heritage was founded by a Colombian Claudia Guevara in 2021. Meraki, a modern Greek word, is often used to describe doing something with soul, creativity, or love. Heritage signifies a person's unique, inherited sense of family identity: the values, traditions, culture, and artifacts handed down by previous generations. The brand aims to bring new, innovative, and exciting products and bring them in a sustainable way, whilst maintaining the cultural & artisanal heritage of its partners in South America.
From the beginning, as a Colombian, Claudia decided to have her country not only as a source of inspiration but also as a source of production. All materials found in her current pieces are locally sourced from Colombia and conflict-free. The artisans we work with possess the exemplary practices of sustainability, because they have knowledge of how to take advantage of natural resources and how these processes are intertwined with the environment.
Our Artisans:
Meraki Heritage has currently partnered with incredible artisans from the Wayuu Tribe, Usiacuri, Timbio-Cauca & Sandona to bring you an amazing range of environmentally sustainable, handcrafted palm woven bags, hats, placemats and ponchos. These artisanal skills have been passed down from generation to generation and is a pride amongst their communities.
SUSTAINABILITY
Meraki is striving to create a business which benefits not only the company but the indigenous artisans that create our wonderful products. With that in mind, we have partnered with two organisations: i) Artesanias de Colombia – an organisation committed to ensuring fair treatment and economics for Colombia’s indigenous communities & ii) Solidaridad Por Colombia, a non-profit organisation that helps to facilitate aid & charitable investment into indigenous and poor communities in Colombia. In 2020 they helped more than 800 artisans throughout Colombia and despite the logistical difficulties supplied 430 municipalities with aid.
Meraki Heritage is committed to working with these organisations to reinvest a portion of its income back into these communities in the form of educational & health projects.