Recognizing Ecuador
I'd like to take this moment to recognize the people of Ecuador and their rich culture. Firstly, I've given each of my jewelry styles a name inspired by the Kichwa dialect, which is still spoken in Ecuador today, along with its English translation. Additionally, the alpaca ponchos and blankets featured here are named after a region in Ecuador.
Kichwa, the language of the Inca Empire, is still spoken by around eight million people across the Andes. Varieties of Kichwa are spoken in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Ecuador.
During my buying trips to Ecuador, I've noticed that the indigenous people I work with often switch from Spanish to Kichwa, especially when they prefer that I don't understand the conversation, particularly during negotiations!