I was born in Ecuador and have lived in Germany since 1998. One year later, I founded the Arte Andino brand with my family to offer high-quality products directly from Ecuador, made by experienced artisans. Despite fierce competition, we have relied on fair prices and online channels from the very beginning.

I have been working with this noble product and the people who contribute to it for over 25 years.

It is particularly important to me to make a positive impact and to help local people achieve a better quality of life, because that is my priority and more important than just business.

Carrión Family

Profit sharing

The hat weavers we work with at Arte Andino come from the Pile region near Montecristi, Ecuador. I have developed a personal relationship with them and visit them during my travels back home. As a token of appreciation and as a share of the profits, I offer them a bonus to improve their quality of life.

This close connection to the hat weavers would not be possible without the tremendous support of my family, both in Germany and Ecuador. Their dedicated help enables us to maintain the tradition of hat weaving and offer high-quality handcrafted Panama hats.

At Arte Andino, our goal is not only to honor the craftsmanship of the hat weavers, but also to help ensure that their community benefits from our collaboration. We are proud to integrate their craftsmanship into the modern fashion world while also having a positive impact on their lives.

We thank you very much for your support and are pleased to present you our unique and high-quality Panama hats.

That’s fair trade for me.